Summary:
Zip code 28463 contains exactly one public high school, South Columbus High in Tabor City, which serves students in grades 9–12 within the Columbus County Schools district. With 669 students and an extraordinary 99.4% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, this school operates under conditions of nearly universal economic disadvantage, making its performance especially notable when compared against district and state averages rather than peer campuses.
South Columbus High posted a 92.5% graduation rate, surpassing the district's 90.5% and the state's 88.8%. The school also improved its proficiency in every End-of-Course subject from 2024–25 to 2025–26, including substantial gains of 12.7 points in Biology and 12.1 points in Math III. Current proficiency rates stand at 52.1% in Biology, 50.4% in English II, 39.7% in Math I, and 58.0% in Math III. The school outperforms its district in Biology, English II, and Math I, yet trails the state in all subjects, with the widest gaps appearing in English II (14.2 points below state) and Math III (10.9 points below state).
Chronic absenteeism is the most pressing concern, affecting 33.0% of students compared to 29.3% for the district and 24.2% for the state. Math III is the only subject where the school falls short of both district and state averages, identifying secondary mathematics as a key area for continued focus. While the school ranks in the bottom third of North Carolina high schools, its above-average graduation rate and recent year-over-year academic momentum suggest real strengths in student persistence. For parents, the overall picture is a high-poverty school that successfully guides students to graduation at rates exceeding state norms, is improving quickly across all tested subjects, and now faces the critical challenge of reducing absenteeism to sustain that progress.
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