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Best Public Schools in Columbus County, NC

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its North Carolina rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

Schools

8,454

Students

Districts

5-star school

Top rankedOld Dock Elementary90^th of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Old Dock Elementary up 249 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Chadbourn Elementary 13 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

3★

2★

1★

0★

3 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

See the top-ranked North Carolina schools →

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville	Public, Charter	K-8	35 Bacon's Way	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville	Yes	No	No	Yes	(910) 641-4042	842	19	44.6	90.4%	299 (35.5%)	222 (26.4%)	142 (16.9%)	6 (0.7%)	86 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (10.3%)	19.9	1279^th of 1492 public elementary schools	14.3%		29.3	1099^th of 1490 public elementary schools	26.2%	180					46.2	33.3	46.1	26.9	30.4	32.4	40.9	47.6	39.5	54.8	48.1	64.7	39.5	55.9
Thomas Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	3-12	206-B Rube MCCRAY Circle	Lake Waccamaw	28450	Columbus County	Thomas Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(910) 646-2237	62	7	8.8		16 (25.8%)	17 (27.4%)	14 (22.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (21.0%)								(n/a)	20.0	33.3		10.0					537.3						27.3
East Arcadia Elementary	Public	K-5	21451 NC Hwy 87 East	Riegelwood	28456	Columbus County	Bladen County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 247-4609	68	8	8.6	95.6%	6 (8.8%)	34 (50.0%)	18 (26.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (5.9%)	1 (1.5%)	5 (7.4%)	19.9	1277^th of 1492 public elementary schools	14.4%		11.5	1401^st of 1490 public elementary schools	6.0%	124						27.3	53.8					9.1	46.2				53.8		$21,299	$3,259	$18,039
East Columbus Junior-Senior High	Public	7-12	32 Gator Lane	Lake Waccamaw	28450	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 646-4094	576	34	17.0	99.5%	152 (26.4%)	184 (31.9%)	106 (18.4%)	1 (0.2%)	71 (12.3%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (10.8%)	22.6	538^th of 662 public high schools	18.7%		27.8	474^th of 641 public high schools	26.1%	64	44.9	37.5	26.5	59.8					35.2	15.7					33.3	24.8		41.2	$10,383	$1,233	$9,149
South Columbus High	Public	9-12	40 Stallion Drive	Tabor City	28463	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 653-4073	669	43	15.7	99.4%	409 (61.1%)	157 (23.5%)	80 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	18 (2.7%)	33.9	449^th of 662 public high schools	32.2%		29	463^rd of 641 public high schools	27.8%	14	52.1	50.4	39.7	58.0															$9,661	$1,025	$8,636
Acme Delco Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	16337 Old Lake Road	Riegelwood	28456	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 655-2957	349	22	16.2	99.1%	130 (37.2%)	96 (27.5%)	82 (23.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.3%)	5 (1.4%)	21 (6.0%)	23.6	1212^th of 1492 public elementary schools	18.8%		27.2	1131^st of 1490 public elementary schools	24.1%	81					41.9	45.9	40.0	58.1			32.6	45.9	40.0	46.5			55.0		$10,358	$1,643	$8,715
Chadbourn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	409 E Third Avenue	Chadbourn	28431	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 654-3825	233	18	13.0	98.7%	55 (23.6%)	127 (54.5%)	26 (11.2%)	2 (0.9%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	20 (8.6%)	34.5	1019^th of 1492 public elementary schools	31.7%		39.3	932^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	37.4%	87					75.0	41.5	64.3				41.7	24.4	53.6				64.3		$12,202	$2,284	$9,918
Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1337 Giles Byrd Road	Hallsboro	28442	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 646-3510	394	23	17.0	98.2%	102 (25.9%)	90 (22.8%)	60 (15.2%)	1 (0.3%)	73 (18.5%)	1 (0.3%)	67 (17.0%)	34.8	1010^th of 1492 public elementary schools	32.3%		39.3	931^st of 1490 public elementary schools	37.5%	79					61.4	42.6	45.8	35.3			52.3	48.9	52.1	47.1			70.8		$10,419	$1,866	$8,554
Old Dock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	12489 New Britton Hwy	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-2084	265	20	13.3	98.9%	161 (60.8%)	19 (7.2%)	63 (23.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	2 (0.8%)	16 (6.0%)	91.7	90^th of 1492 public elementary schools	94.0%		73.4	339^th of 1490 public elementary schools	77.2%	249					89.4	81.5					83.0	75.9							$10,629	$1,731	$8,898
West Columbus High	Public	9-12	7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy SW	Cerro Gordo	28430	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 654-6111	459	33	13.9	97.6%	205 (44.7%)	187 (40.7%)	33 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.4%)	16.6	572^nd of 662 public high schools	13.6%		18.8	529^th of 641 public high schools	17.5%	43	27.1	33.3	31.1	55.8															$11,672	$1,304	$10,369
Williams Township	Public	PK, KG-8	10400 James B White Hwy	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 653-3791	659	44	15.0	99.5%	546 (82.9%)	62 (9.4%)	32 (4.9%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.3%)	49.3	741^st of 1492 public elementary schools	50.3%		46.8	806^th of 1490 public elementary schools	45.9%	65					68.8	45.7	60.3	61.1	55.8	34.2	63.5	47.1	54.0	53.7	42.9	46.6	68.3	53.4	$9,580	$1,302	$8,278
Columbus Career and College Academy	Public	9-12	4564 Chadbourn Hwy	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 788-6281	230	12	18.4	98.7%	133 (57.8%)	41 (17.8%)	47 (20.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	81.3	133^rd of 662 public high schools	79.9%		71.8	171^st of 641 public high schools	73.3%	38	80.9	83.3	94.1	81.5															$6,813	$326	$6,488
Nakina Middle	Public	5-8	9822 Seven Creeks Hwy	Nakina	28455	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-8301	194	12	16.3	97.4%	117 (60.3%)	15 (7.7%)	54 (27.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	58.3	318^th of 778 public middle schools	59.1%		54.3	336^th of 773 public middle schools	56.5%	18							21.6	50.0	50.0	35.7			40.5	53.2	78.0	97.6	40.5	83.3	$9,493	$1,505	$7,989
West Columbus School	Public	PK, KG-8	7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy SW	Cerro Gordo	28430	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(910) 654-4250	814	49	16.5	99.6%	417 (51.2%)	250 (30.7%)	72 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	67 (8.2%)	12.8	1389^th of 1492 public elementary schools	6.9%		21	1259^th of 1490 public elementary schools	15.5%	130					41.9	33.3	32.0	36.6	42.9	20.6	35.1	38.7	40.0	32.1	41.9	33.6	54.7	48.6
Tabor City School	Public	PK, KG-8	203 Stake Road	Tabor City	28463	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(910) 653-3618	598	37	16.3	99.5%	274 (45.8%)	264 (44.1%)	41 (6.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	14 (2.3%)	16.4	1344^th of 1492 public elementary schools	9.9%		22.6	1231^st of 1490 public elementary schools	17.4%	113					48.4	25.4	27.3	58.9	49.0	34.2	45.2	25.4	34.5	44.6	40.8	34.2	29.1	44.3
Central Middle	Public	6-8	310 S Martin L King Jr Ave	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-3546	451	27	16.5	99.3%	161 (35.7%)	193 (42.8%)	64 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.4%)	40	478^th of 778 public middle schools	38.6%		42.2	457^th of 773 public middle schools	40.9%	21								50.4	63.4	45.0				39.1	52.3	47.0		59.7	$10,356	$1,869	$8,486
Edgewood Elementary	Public	3-5	317 E Calhoun Street	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-3121	450	27	16.6	99.3%	183 (40.7%)	167 (37.1%)	59 (13.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.4%)	48.5	759^th of 1492 public elementary schools	49.1%		43.9	848^th of 1490 public elementary schools	43.1%	89					77.8	45.0	63.2				61.5	48.8	43.8				74.3		$10,409	$1,863	$8,546
Whiteville Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	805 Barbcrest Avenue	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 642-4119	486	28	17.4	99.0%	187 (38.5%)	198 (40.7%)	65 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.6%)								(n/a)																			$11,650	$2,013	$9,637
Whiteville High	Public	9-12	413 N Lee Street	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 914-4189	639	29	22.1	99.5%	254 (39.7%)	240 (37.6%)	95 (14.9%)	6 (0.9%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.9%)	54	295^th of 662 public high schools	55.4%		42.7	353^rd of 641 public high schools	44.9%	58	61.4	69.1	37.2	84.4															$10,302	$1,532	$8,770
North Whiteville Academy	Public	6-12	310 S Martin Luther King Jr Av	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 914-4161	16	5	3.2	81.3%	4 (25.0%)	11 (68.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.3%)								(n/a)																			$24,391	$612	$23,779

SchoolDigger rankings lists for North Carolina:

Elementary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Districts Cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.