- Enrollment
- 814
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Tabor City, NC
South Columbus High
Federal NCES profile for South Columbus High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370096000237
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Columbus High earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Tabor City · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.9:1
- students per teacher
- 99.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Columbus High has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Columbus High ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Tabor City, NC.
School address
District: Columbus County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370096000237 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
South Columbus High held near 689 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 42.6 → 41.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 370096000237 · Tabor City, NC High · MID · TRAD
669 enr · 15.9:1 · 99.6% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: West Columbus School (814 students)
South Columbus High held near 689 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 42.6 → 41.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
South Columbus High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Columbus
West Columbus School
814 students
- This school
South Columbus High
669 students
- Williams Towns
Williams Township
659 students
- East Columbus
East Columbus Junior-Senior High
576 students
- West Columbus
West Columbus High
459 students
- Tabor City Ele
Tabor City Elementary
415 students
What this shows South Columbus High reports 669 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Columbus High compares
South Columbus High 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 | 15.9:1 | ▲ 1% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.6% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 669 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
669
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 61% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
46.3%
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
$14,006
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 669 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
238
in-school suspensions + 91 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 35.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 49.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.1%
African American 23.5%
Hispanic or Latino 12.0%
Two or More 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 61.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.6, South Columbus High is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Columbus County Schools reports $14,006 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Columbus High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Columbus School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Williams Township | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Columbus Junior-Senior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Columbus High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tabor City Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Columbus High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 659
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 576
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 459
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 415
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
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 (~669 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Columbus High
How many students attend South Columbus High?
South Columbus High has 669 students enrolled. It is a high school in Tabor City, NC. CCD year-over-year: 692 (2022-23) → 689 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Columbus High?
The student-teacher ratio at South Columbus High is 15.9:1, which is 1% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Columbus High?
99.6% of students at South Columbus High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Columbus High?
The largest demographic group at South Columbus High is White at 61.1% of enrollment, in Tabor City, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Columbus High?
South Columbus High has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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).
How does South Columbus High rank among public schools in Tabor City?
By Resource Investment Index, South Columbus High ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Tabor City, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Columbus County Schools?
Besides South Columbus High, Columbus County Schools also operates West Columbus School (814 students), Williams Township (659 students), and East Columbus Junior-Senior High (576 students). See the Columbus County Schools district page for the complete list.