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Home > North Carolina > Polk County

Polk County Schools

125 E Mills Street
Columbus, NC 28722

( shown in map)

:

9/

10

Top 20%

Tel: (828) 894-3051

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Polk County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category

Attribute

Overall Rank

Highest overall rank (Top 20%)

Math Proficiency

Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)

Reading/Language Arts Proficiency

Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)

Student Attention

Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)

For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public preschools serving 1,037 students in Polk County Schools. This district's average pre is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public pre schools in North Carolina.

Public Preschools in Polk County Schools have an score of 69% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and score of 65% (versus the 46% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

7 Schools

994 Schools

# Students

2,156 Students

464,055 Students

# Teachers

171 Teachers

33,275 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

13:1

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
Pre-K	119	66
Kind	146	205
1	156	211
2	167	216
3	139	196
4	161	198
5	149	189

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">District Rank

Polk County Schools, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (NC)

#51 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Polk County Schools
2023	#51
2022	#51
2021	#54
2019	#42
2018	#42
2017	#50
2016	#42
2015	#58
2014	#50
2013	#36
2012	#34

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(21-22)

66%

51%

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2022	66%	51%
2021	58%	42%
2019	58%	42%
2018	57%	48%
2017	63%	47%
2016	62%	47%
2015	58%	44%
2014	56%	43%
2013	55%	42%
2012	92%	82%
2011	94%	82%

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67%

50%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2022	67%	50%
2021	62%	47%
2019	62%	46%
2018	57%	47%
2017	60%	46%
2016	62%	47%
2015	60%	46%
2014	59%	46%
2013	58%	45%
2012	85%	73%
2011	83%	70%

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74%

63%

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2022	74%	63%
2021	77%	61%

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(21-22)

85-89%

86%

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2022	87%	86%
2021	92%	85%
2020	87%	86%
2019	92%	85%
2018	92%	86%
2017	87%	88%
2016	87%	88%
2015	92%	87%
2014	82%	86%
2013	82%	85%
2012	90%	83%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.40

0.72

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	0.40	0.71
2022	0.40	0.70
2021	0.38	0.69
2020	0.39	0.68
2019	0.39	0.68
2018	0.38	0.67
2017	0.38	0.67
2016	0.37	0.66
2015	0.39	0.66
2014	0.37	0.65
2013	0.37	0.65
2012	0.37	0.64
2011	0.36	0.64
2010	0.36	0.61
2009	0.35	0.61
2008	0.32	0.61
2007	0.31	0.60
2006	0.31	0.58
2005	0.31	0.58
2004	0.30	0.57
2003	0.28	0.56
2002	0.28	0.55
2001	0.29	0.53
2000	0.24	0.53
1999	0.22	0.52
1998	0.22	0.52
1997	0.22	0.50
1996	0.22	0.50
1995	0.21	0.49
1994	0.20	0.48
1993	0.22	0.48
1992	0.22	0.48
1991	0.24	0.48

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% American Indian

n/a

1%

% Asian

1%

4%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2022)
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2022	1%	4%
2008	2%	3%
2002	1%	2%
2001	1%	2%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

12%

23%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	13%	20%
2022	12%	20%
2021	12%	19%
2020	12%	18%
2019	12%	18%
2018	12%	17%
2017	12%	17%
2016	12%	16%
2015	14%	16%
2014	13%	15%
2013	13%	14%
2012	12%	13%
2011	12%	13%
2010	11%	11%
2009	9%	11%
2008	9%	11%
2007	10%	10%
2006	7%	8%
2005	8%	8%
2004	7%	7%
2003	6%	6%
2002	5%	5%
2001	5%	4%
2000	4%	4%
1999	3%	3%
1998	3%	3%
1997	3%	2%
1996	3%	2%
1995	2%	2%
1994	2%	1%
1993	1%	1%

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% Black

6%

25%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	6%	25%
2022	6%	25%
2021	6%	25%
2020	6%	25%
2019	6%	25%
2018	6%	26%
2017	6%	26%
2016	6%	26%
2015	7%	26%
2014	6%	26%
2013	6%	26%
2012	6%	26%
2011	6%	26%
2010	10%	31%
2009	11%	31%
2008	8%	29%
2007	8%	29%
2006	10%	32%
2005	10%	31%
2004	10%	31%
2003	10%	31%
2002	10%	31%
2001	10%	31%
2000	9%	31%
1999	9%	31%
1998	9%	30%
1997	9%	31%
1996	9%	31%
1995	9%	30%
1994	9%	30%
1993	11%	30%
1992	11%	30%
1991	12%	30%

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% White

76%

41%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	76%	44%
2022	77%	45%
2021	78%	46%
2020	77%	48%
2019	77%	48%
2018	78%	49%
2017	78%	49%
2016	79%	50%
2015	75%	50%
2014	78%	51%
2013	78%	52%
2012	79%	53%
2011	79%	53%
2010	79%	54%
2009	80%	54%
2008	81%	55%
2007	82%	56%
2006	83%	56%
2005	82%	57%
2004	83%	58%
2003	84%	59%
2002	84%	60%
2001	84%	61%
2000	87%	61%
1999	88%	62%
1998	88%	63%
1997	88%	64%
1996	87%	64%
1995	88%	65%
1994	89%	66%
1993	88%	66%
1992	88%	66%
1991	86%	66%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

n/a

% Two or more races

5%

6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	5%	6%
2022	4%	5%
2021	4%	5%
2020	5%	5%
2019	5%	5%
2018	4%	4%
2017	4%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	4%	4%
2014	3%	4%
2013	3%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,537 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $13,184 is higher than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$29 MM

$17,307 MM

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$29 MM	$8 MM
2022	$28 MM	$8 MM
2021	$29 MM	$8 MM
2020	$28 MM	$8 MM
2019	$28 MM	$8 MM
2018	$27 MM	$8 MM
2017	$27 MM	$8 MM
2016	$28 MM	$8 MM
2015	$30 MM	$18 MM
2014	$28 MM	$10 MM
2012	$27 MM	$17 MM
2011	$28 MM	$19 MM
2010	$30 MM	$18 MM
2009	$30 MM	$19 MM
2008	$28 MM	$18 MM
2007	$27 MM	$18 MM
2006	$28 MM	$15 MM
2005	$25 MM	$15 MM
2004	$24 MM	$17 MM
2003	$22 MM	$17 MM
2002	$20 MM	$16 MM
2001	$20 MM	$17 MM
2000	$19 MM	$20 MM
1999	$17 MM	$23 MM
1998	$16 MM	$26 MM
1997	$13 MM	$34 MM
1996	$14 MM	$34 MM
1995	$14 MM	$32 MM

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Spending

$28 MM

$17,964 MM

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$28 MM	$8 MM
2022	$27 MM	$8 MM
2021	$28 MM	$8 MM
2020	$27 MM	$8 MM
2019	$28 MM	$7 MM
2018	$27 MM	$8 MM
2017	$27 MM	$9 MM
2016	$29 MM	$8 MM
2015	$27 MM	$18 MM
2014	$28 MM	$11 MM
2012	$26 MM	$16 MM
2011	$26 MM	$17 MM
2010	$27 MM	$18 MM
2009	$29 MM	$18 MM
2008	$27 MM	$17 MM
2007	$25 MM	$18 MM
2006	$24 MM	$15 MM
2005	$21 MM	$15 MM
2004	$22 MM	$16 MM
2003	$21 MM	$17 MM
2002	$19 MM	$15 MM
2001	$18 MM	$17 MM
2000	$18 MM	$20 MM
1999	$16 MM	$24 MM
1998	$16 MM	$26 MM
1997	$14 MM	$36 MM
1996	$13 MM	$33 MM
1995	$13 MM	$32 MM

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Revenue / Student

$13,537

$11,192

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$13,474	$10,093
2022	$12,798	$9,918
2021	$13,549	$10,282
2020	$12,798	$9,918
2019	$12,527	$9,125
2018	$12,095	$9,419
2017	$11,975	$10,522
2016	$12,154	$9,128
2015	$12,542	$10,864
2014	$12,555	$9,046
2012	$11,217	$10,562
2011	$11,289	$12,703
2010	$11,543	$10,864
2009	$11,549	$11,105
2008	$10,836	$11,767
2007	$10,707	$9,479
2006	$10,633	$9,335
2005	$10,206	$8,913
2004	$9,385	$8,734
2003	$9,013	$8,577
2002	$7,956	$8,130
2001	$7,877	$7,294
2000	$7,758	$7,636
1999	$7,155	$7,252
1998	$6,963	$5,688
1997	$6,076	$5,690
1995	$6,723	$5,545
1992	$5,921	$4,737

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Spending / Student

$13,184

$11,617

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Polk County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$13,123	$9,807
2022	$12,456	$9,654
2021	$13,196	$9,990
2020	$12,456	$9,654
2019	$12,721	$8,949
2018	$12,183	$9,637
2017	$11,816	$11,583
2016	$12,656	$9,753
2015	$11,322	$10,591
2014	$12,484	$9,388
2012	$10,924	$10,336
2011	$10,441	$11,927
2010	$10,420	$10,591
2009	$11,021	$10,880
2008	$10,266	$11,136
2007	$9,836	$9,418
2006	$9,170	$8,813
2005	$8,739	$8,647
2004	$8,638	$8,413
2003	$8,558	$8,886
2002	$7,365	$7,903
2001	$7,269	$7,301
2000	$7,297	$7,650
1999	$6,899	$7,340
1998	$6,755	$5,663
1997	$6,335	$6,040
1995	$6,361	$5,570
1992	$10,022	$4,725

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Best Polk County Schools Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Saluda Elementary School

(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
:

10/

10

Top 10%

Add to Compare

214 E Main Street
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040

Gr: PK-5 | 145 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 6%

Rank: #22.

Tryon Elementary School

(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
:

9/

10

Top 20%

Add to Compare

100 School Place
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584

Gr: PK-5 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%

Rank: #33.

Polk Central Elementary School

(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
:

9/

10

Top 20%

Add to Compare

2141 South Nc9 Hwy
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-8233

Gr: PK-5 | 382 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%

Rank: #44.

Sunny View Elementary School

(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
:

8/

10

Top 30%

Add to Compare

86 Sunny View School Road
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050

Gr: PK-5 | 124 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 6%

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 7 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 2,156 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 24%
: 85-89% (Top 50% in NC)
: Top 20%
: 66% (Top 20%)
: 67% (Top 20%)
: 74% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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