Top Rankings
Columbus County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 3,506 students in Columbus County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Columbus County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
2,151 Schools
# Students
5,419 Students
1,095,784 Students
# Teachers
347 Teachers
71,767 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Columbus County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#230 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.72
% American Indian
4%
1%
% Asian
n/a
5%
% Hispanic
13%
22%
% Black
27%
24%
% White
50%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,800 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,466 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$64 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$62 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,800
$11,168
Spending / Student
$11,466
$11,592
Best Columbus County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Old Dock Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12489 New Britton Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Gr: PK-4 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #22.
Nakina Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9822 Seven Creeks Hwy
Nakina, NC 28455
(910) 642-8301
Nakina, NC 28455
(910) 642-8301
Gr: 5-8 | 194 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Chadbourn Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
409 E Third Avenue
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-3825
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-3825
Gr: PK-5 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Acme Delco Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
16337 Old Lake Road
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Gr: PK-6 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Hallsboro-artesia Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1337 Giles Byrd Road
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Gr: PK-6 | 394 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #66.
Williams Township
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
10400 James B White Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Gr: PK-8 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: n/an/a
203 Stake Road
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Gr: PK-8 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: n/an/a
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Gr: PK-8 | 814 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
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