High Schools in Columbus County Schools

Columbus County Schools operates four high schools serving grades 9–12 (with one also serving 7th–8th) in a largely rural, high-poverty area of North Carolina, where nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The standout by far is Columbus Career and College Academy, which ranks in the 80th percentile statewide (4 stars) and posts exceptional test scores—94.1% proficiency in Math I and 83.3% in English II—despite having the lowest per-pupil spending in the group and a 98.7% poverty rate. By contrast, West Columbus High ranks in the 14th percentile (1 star), with just 27.1% Biology proficiency, a 41.3% chronic absenteeism rate, and a graduation rate below both the district and state.

Among the three traditional high schools, South Columbus High is the strongest overall performer. It ranks in the 32nd percentile (2 stars), graduates 92.5% of students—above the state average—and leads its traditional peers in English II (50.4%) and Biology (52.1%) proficiency. East Columbus Junior-Senior High sits in the 19th percentile (1 star), with a solid 59.8% Math III proficiency but weak English II (37.5%) and a 36% chronic absenteeism rate. West Columbus trails the group on almost every academic measure, including 33.3% English II proficiency and 31.1% Math I, while also spending more per student ($11,672) than any other school and having the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.9).

The most important takeaway for parents is that districtwide ratings mask huge differences between schools. Columbus Career and College Academy proves that high-poverty students in this district can excel, achieving at a level nearly 50 percentage points above the district average in Math I. Chronic absenteeism is a key concern at the traditional high schools, with rates from 33% to 41%—roughly double the state average—while the academy’s absenteeism is just 14.4%. Math remains a major weakness outside the academy, with Math I proficiency in the traditional schools ranging from 26.5% to 39.7% versus 42.1% statewide. A positive sign is that every school improved Biology proficiency by 12 to 22 points over the past year, but West Columbus in particular remains far behind and should be carefully considered.