Best Public Schools in Columbus, NC

Columbus, North Carolina is served by two public high schools in Polk County Schools, a strong district ranked 57th of 246 statewide: Polk County High School, a large comprehensive high school with 596 students, and Polk County Early College, a very small early college high school with just 52 students, both serving grades 9 through 12.

Polk County Early College is the clear standout. It ranks 84th of 662 North Carolina high schools (87th percentile) in 2025–2026, down from an exceptional 29th of 640 (95th percentile) two years earlier. Its EOC proficiency rates are extraordinary: 100% proficient in Biology, 90.5% in English II, and 92.9% in Math III, all far above state averages. Chronic absenteeism is just 9.2%, compared to 22.8% at Polk County High School and roughly 24% statewide. This success comes despite 94.2% of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch and per-pupil spending of $9,557, about 21% less than the larger school.

Polk County High School is a solidly mid-tier school, ranking 324th of 662 (51st percentile). It outperforms state averages in English II (66.9%), Math I (46.4%), and Math III (75.7%), but trails in Biology (51.2% vs. 58.5% statewide). Its graduation rate of 91.0% and the Early College's 90.7% both exceed the state rate of 88.8%, and nearly all students at both schools (99.5% and 94.2%) qualify for free/reduced lunch. While test scores diverge sharply, that gap likely stems from the Early College's very small size and strong attendance culture rather than any single cause. Families in Columbus have two distinctly different high school options: a large traditional school that performs near or above state averages, and a tiny early college that consistently delivers elite academic results.