Top Rankings
Polk County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 648 students in Polk County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Polk County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 71% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 68% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Polk County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 88%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Polk County Early College, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
7 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
2,156 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
33,453 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Polk County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85-89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#51 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
63%
Graduation Rate
85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.40
0.70
# American Indian Students
1 Student
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
11 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
267 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
20%
# Black Students
123 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
6%
24%
# White Students
1,640 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
76%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
112 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
119
491
# Students in K Grade:
146
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
156
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
167
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
139
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
161
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
149
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
159
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
146
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
166
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
178
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
180
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
149
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
141
104,750
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,537 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,184 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$29 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$28 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,537
$11,187
Spending / Student
$13,184
$11,612
Best Polk County Schools School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Polk County High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1681 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2525
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2525
Grades: 9-12
| 593 students
Rank: #22.
Polk County Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1545 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Grades: 9-12
| 55 students
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