Columbus County Schools Show Strong Improvement in Latest State Report Card

By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer

Columbus County, NC — Columbus County Schools saw a major win this year, officially stepping out of the state’s “low-performing” category for the first time since before the pandemic. The latest report card from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) shows that the district is on an upward path, with more students mastering key subjects and higher graduation rates.

The state’s annual report card grades schools on an “A–F” scale, much like a student’s report card. These grades are based on two main factors:

Proficiency: This measures the percentage of students who are testing at or above grade level in core subjects like reading and math.

Growth: This measures how much progress a student makes during the school year. This tracks whether the school is successfully helping students catch up and move forward.

District Highlights

• Columbus Career & College Academy: Earned a “B” grade, continuing its role as a standout performer in the county.

• South Columbus High: Showed stable performance and remains a strong contributor to the district’s success.

• Academic Gains: The district saw a 2.5-point boost in K-8 reading scores and a significant 9.7-point jump in high-school math proficiency.

• Graduation Rate: The four-year graduation rate reached 88.5%, a steady increase that shows more students are staying on track to earn their diplomas.

While these results are a significant step in the right direction, district leaders acknowledge that there is still work to be done, particularly in early-grade literacy and middle-school math. However, the 2025 data confirms that the district is closing the gap, with students across the county showing more academic progress than in previous years.

Publisher’s Note: This report uses official data released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for the 2025 accountability cycle.

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