Needs Improvement
#2454 of 2,648 schools in NC
East Columbus Junior-senior High
High School · Columbus County Schools · Lake Waccamaw, NC
A Columbus County Schools high school where students score 16 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 401, Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
- Math 27% vs NC 53% (2025)
- Reading 33% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 77.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at East Columbus Junior-senior High score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 29 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 30% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where East Columbus Junior-senior High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$74,917
Median home value
$266,800
Median rent
$983/mo
College educated
32.1%
Homeownership
83.8%
Poverty rate
10%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28450; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.2 | 6–12 | 1.7 mi | 70 | Compare → |
| South Columbus HighEnrollment path unverified | 4.2 | 9–12 | Not available | 689 | Compare → |
| West Columbus HighEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 9–12 | Not available | 455 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Columbus County Schools
- Schools in district
- 12
- Rank in district
- #11 of 11
- District spending per student
- $14,006NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
East Columbus Junior-senior High is listed in Columbus County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About East Columbus Junior-senior High
East Columbus Junior-senior High is a public high school in Lake Waccamaw, NC, part of Columbus County Schools, serving approximately 560 students in grades 7th-12th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,454 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about East Columbus Junior-senior High
What grades does East Columbus Junior-senior High serve?
East Columbus Junior-senior High serves students in grades 7th through 12th.
How many students attend East Columbus Junior-senior High?
East Columbus Junior-senior High has an enrollment of approximately 560 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Columbus Junior-senior High?
The student-teacher ratio at East Columbus Junior-senior High is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does East Columbus Junior-senior High rank in NC?
East Columbus Junior-senior High ranks #2,454 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is East Columbus Junior-senior High's MySchoolScout rating?
East Columbus Junior-senior High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at East Columbus Junior-senior High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, East Columbus Junior-senior High has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is East Columbus Junior-senior High a charter school?
No, East Columbus Junior-senior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is East Columbus Junior-senior High a Title I school?
No, East Columbus Junior-senior High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for East Columbus Junior-senior High?
99.5% of students at East Columbus Junior-senior High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 7th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 560
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Columbus County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 52.3%
- Phone
- (910) 646-4094
- 4-Year Graduation
- 77.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28450)
- 2,256
- Area average commute
- 30.4 min
- Area median age
- 48.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28450; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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