There were 7,432 students enrolled in Columbus County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 4.4% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville registered the highest enrollment among Columbus County’s 18 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 847 students.
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.
| School name | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville | 843 | 847 | 0.5% |
| West Columbus School | 745 | 768 | 3.1% |
| South Columbus High School | 659 | 648 | -1.7% |
| Whiteville High School | 630 | 613 | -2.7% |
| Williams Township | 615 | 602 | -2.1% |
| East Columbus Junior-Senior High School | 581 | 554 | -4.6% |
| Central Middle School | 457 | 458 | 0.2% |
| Edgewood Elementary School | 458 | 443 | -3.3% |
| Whiteville Primary School | 446 | 440 | -1.3% |
| West Columbus High School | 391 | 433 | 10.7% |
| Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary School | 324 | 350 | 8% |
| Acme Delco Elementary School | 286 | 283 | -1% |
| Old Dock Elementary School | 262 | 254 | -3.1% |
| Columbus Career and College Academy | – | 233 | – |
| Nakina Middle School | 210 | 208 | -1% |
| Chadbourn Elementary School | 202 | 197 | -2.5% |
| Thomas Academy | 73 | 75 | 2.7% |
| North Whiteville Academy | 31 | 26 | -16.1% |
