- Enrollment
- 454
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbus, NC
Polk County High School
Federal NCES profile for Polk County High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370372000785
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Polk County High School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 47.5%
- free-lunch eligible
- 596
- students enrolled
Polk County High School has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Polk County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370372000785 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Polk County High School held near 593 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 42.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 370372000785 · Columbus, NC High · MID · TRAD
596 enr · 14.9:1 · 47.5% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Polk County Middle School (454 students)
Polk County High School held near 593 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 42.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Polk County High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Polk County High School
596 students
- Polk County Mi
Polk County Middle School
454 students
- Polk Central E
Polk Central Elementary School
379 students
- Tryon Elementa
Tryon Elementary School
367 students
- Saluda Element 142
Saluda Elementary School
142 students
- Sunny View Ele 120
Sunny View Elementary School
120 students
What this shows Polk County High School reports 596 students on the CCD universe file.
How Polk County High School compares
Polk County High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.5% | ▼ 28% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 596 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
596
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,041
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 199 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
129
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 72.7%
Hispanic or Latino 15.6%
African American 7.0%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 72.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.0, Polk County High School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Polk County Schools reports $15,041 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Polk County High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Polk Central Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tryon Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Saluda Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sunny View Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Polk County High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 379
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 367
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 142
- Students per teacher
- 9.5:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 120
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
Similar high schools in Columbus
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~596 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Polk County High School
How many students attend Polk County High School?
Polk County High School has 596 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbus, NC. CCD year-over-year: 579 (2022-23) → 593 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk County High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk County High School is 14.9:1, which is 6% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Polk County High School?
47.5% of students at Polk County High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Polk County High School?
The largest demographic group at Polk County High School is White at 72.7% of enrollment, in Columbus, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Polk County High School?
Polk County High School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Polk County Schools?
Besides Polk County High School, Polk County Schools also operates Polk County Middle School (454 students), Polk Central Elementary School (379 students), and Tryon Elementary School (367 students). See the Polk County Schools district page for the complete list.