Excellent
#3 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 1% in state
Polk County Early College
High School · Polk County Schools · Columbus, NC
A high school in Columbus, NC where students score 48 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1545 East NC 108 Hwy, Columbus, NC 28722
- Math 92% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 100% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Polk County Early College score 96% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 24 points since 2019, reaching 96% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 77% (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 26 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
94.5%
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 Polk County Early College 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 13Car-Dependent
- Bike 9Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,533/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Columbus), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$60,774
Median home value
$277,600
Median rent
$1,225/mo
College educated
31.2%
Homeownership
68.2%
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28722; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | 9–12 | 0.2 mi | 593 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Polk County Schools
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #1 of 7
- District spending per student
- $15,041NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Polk County Early College is listed in Polk County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Polk County Early College
Polk County Early College is a public high school in Columbus, NC, part of Polk County Schools, serving approximately 55 students in grades 9th-12th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.6 out of 10 and ranks #3 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
What's said publicly about Polk County Early College
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Polk County Early College
What grades does Polk County Early College serve?
Polk County Early College serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Polk County Early College?
Polk County Early College has an enrollment of approximately 55 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk County Early College?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk County Early College is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Polk County Early College rank in NC?
Polk County Early College ranks #3 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Polk County Early College's MySchoolScout rating?
Polk County Early College has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.6 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 Polk County Early College?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Polk County Early College has 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Polk County Early College a charter school?
No, Polk County Early College is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Polk County Early College a Title I school?
No, Polk County Early College is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Polk County Early College?
94.5% of students at Polk County Early College 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 55
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 4
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (828) 894-2698
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 28722)
- 5,998
- Area average commute
- 23.4 min
- Area median age
- 51.9
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 28722; 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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