- Enrollment
- 814
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Cerro Gordo, NC
West Columbus High
Federal NCES profile for West Columbus High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370096000373
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Columbus High earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools.
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.4:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 98.3%
- free-lunch eligible
- 459
- students enrolled
West Columbus High has class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Columbus County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370096000373 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+55 students YoY
West Columbus High grew from 400 students in 2022-23 to 455 in 2023-24 (+13.8%).
Teacher FTE added 25.8 → 28.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+55 students YoY 370096000373 · Cerro Gordo, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
459 enr · 18.4:1 · 98.3% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: West Columbus School (814 students)
West Columbus High grew from 400 students in 2022-23 to 455 in 2023-24 (+13.8%). Teacher FTE added 25.8 → 28.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Columbus High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Columbus
West Columbus School
814 students
- South Columbus
South Columbus High
669 students
- Williams Towns
Williams Township
659 students
- East Columbus
East Columbus Junior-Senior High
576 students
- This school
West Columbus High
459 students
- Tabor City Ele
Tabor City Elementary
415 students
What this shows West Columbus High reports 459 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Columbus High compares
West Columbus High is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 18.4:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.3% | ▲ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 459 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.4:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
459
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above 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
18.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
40.1%
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 459 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
138
in-school suspensions + 95 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 30.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 50.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 44.7%
African American 40.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.2%
Two or More 4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 44.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.7, West Columbus High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
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 West Columbus High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Columbus School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Columbus High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Williams Township | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Columbus Junior-Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tabor City Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Columbus High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 669
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- 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
- 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 (~459 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Columbus High
How many students attend West Columbus High?
West Columbus High has 459 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cerro Gordo, NC. CCD year-over-year: 400 (2022-23) → 455 (2023-24), up 55.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Columbus High?
The student-teacher ratio at West Columbus High is 18.4:1, which is 16% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Columbus High?
98.3% of students at West Columbus High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Columbus High?
The largest demographic group at West Columbus High is White at 44.7% of enrollment, in Cerro Gordo, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Columbus High?
West Columbus High has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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).
What other schools are in Columbus County Schools?
Besides West Columbus High, Columbus County Schools also operates West Columbus School (814 students), South Columbus High (669 students), and Williams Township (659 students). See the Columbus County Schools district page for the complete list.