Columbus County Schools: Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville welcomed most students in 2023-24 school year

Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville had the highest enrollment among Columbus County schools, welcoming 847 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the 17 schools in Columbus County, West Columbus School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 768 students, while South Columbus High School welcomed 648 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville is part of Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville district, which roughly covers institutions within Columbus County and has a main office in Whiteville.

In the previous school year, Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville also had the highest number of students among Columbus County schools.

North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.

If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.