Skip to content
US School RatingsPublic school data for parents and homebuyers

Polk County High School

Grades 09–12 · Columbus, NC · NCES 370372000785

Official school website ↗Call schoolView location ↗

1681 East NC 108 Hwy · Columbus, NC 28722

At a glance

Reported students

596

NCES CCD 2024–25

Teachers (FTE)

32.12

NCES CCD 2024–25

Student–teacher ratio

18.6:1

Calculated; not a class-size measure

Grades served

09–12

NCES preliminary directory 2025–26

School benchmarks

North Carolina high enrollment

49th percentile

Compared with 617 same-level schools reporting enrollment.

District median enrollment

367

Polk County High School: 596 reported students.

State peer staffing position

53rd percentile

18.6:1 reported; state peer median 18.3:1. Ratio is not class size.

Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22

These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.

Students
576
Teachers (FTE)
46
Student–teacher ratio
12.5:1

What the reported data says about Polk County High School

Polk County High School is a public high school serving grades 09–12 in Columbus. It is one of 7 current school records connected to Polk County Schools. NCES reports 596 students for 2024–25.

Among 617 high schools in North Carolina with comparable records, this school is close in size to the reported median of 623 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 49th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.

The reported student–teacher ratio is 18.6:1, close to the North Carolina median of 18.3:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.

The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (72.7%) and Hispanic or Latino (15.6%). English learners represent 3.1% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 12.5%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.

The 2021–22 civil-rights collection reports AP student enrollment, gifted and talented programming. The school reported 7 AP courses. Program availability changes, so families should confirm the current catalog and participation rules directly with the school.

Questions worth asking Polk County High School

  1. 1How do the reported 18.6:1 student–teacher ratio and 32.12 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
  2. 2Have the reported academic programs changed since the 2021–22 CRDC collection?
  3. 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 3 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
  4. 4What meal assistance, transportation, after-school, and family-support services are currently available?
Bring the full school visit checklist →

Enrollment needs

English learners
3.1%
Students with disabilities
12.5%
Free/reduced-price lunch
99.5%
Lunch program
Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO

Reported support staff

Counselors (FTE)
3
Nurses (FTE)
1
Psychologists (FTE)
0.29
Social workers (FTE)
0.15

CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.

Student demographics

Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment

  • White72.7%
  • Hispanic15.6%
  • Black7%
  • Asian0.2%
  • American Indian / Alaska Native0%
  • Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
  • Multiracial4.5%

Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.

Programs reported by the school

AP student enrollment

Students enrolled

7 distinct courses reported

Gifted and talented

Offered

Computer science

Not reported as offered

CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.

Other schools in Polk County Schools

Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.

Polk County Early College

High · Grades 09–12

52 reported students

Polk County Middle School

Middle · Grades 06–08

454 reported students

Polk Central Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–05

379 reported students

Tryon Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–05

367 reported students

Saluda Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–05

142 reported students

Sunny View Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–05

120 reported students

View all 7 district schools →