Chadbourn Elementary

Chadbourn Elementary is a small, rural PK-5 school in Chadbourn, NC, serving 233 students in the Columbus County Schools district, where over 98% of children come from low-income households.

Overall, the school sits at the 32nd percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, carrying a 2-star rating. That places it in the middle of a wide local range: Old Dock Elementary reaches the 94th percentile with a nearly identical high-poverty population, while Tabor City School and West Columbus School sit at the 10th and 7th percentiles. More encouraging is Chadbourn's record with students who face economic disadvantages: its low-income students rank at the 52nd percentile relative to low-income students statewide, suggesting the school is exceeding expectations given its context. Math and science results are peaks as well—about 60% of third through fifth graders met the math standard in 2025–26, versus 48% for the district. Third grade math hit 75%, a bright spot worth celebrating. Reading is the weak point: roughly 40% proficient versus 56% statewide, with no grade consistently near the state average.

The two most significant challenges are chronic absenteeism and reading. Forty-three percent of Chadbourn students are chronically absent—one of the highest rates in the surrounding area and nearly double the rate at Old Dock Elementary, Williams Township, and Edgewood Elementary. That translates into lost learning time for almost half the school. The other red flag is gender: male students' statewide ranking tumbled to the 16th percentile in 2025–26, and school leaders should investigate what is happening with boys. Because each tested grade has only 30 to 45 students, single-year results swing sharply, so parents should look for multi-year trends. Improving attendance and strengthening early reading are likely the most powerful steps Chadbourn can take.