Top Rankings
Polk County Schools School District 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 2025 school year, there are 7 public schools serving 2,156 students in Polk County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Polk County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 67% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
7 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
2,156 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Polk County Schools School District, 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 85-89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#51 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
63%
Graduation Rate
85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.40
0.71
# American Indian Students
1 Student
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
11 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
267 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
21%
# Black Students
123 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
6%
25%
# White Students
1,640 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
76%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
112 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
119
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
146
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
156
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
167
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
139
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
161
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
149
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
159
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
146
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
166
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
178
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
180
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
149
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
141
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,537 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,184 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$29 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$28 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,537
$11,187
Spending / Student
$13,184
$11,612
Best Polk County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Saluda Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
214 E Main Street
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Grades: PK-5
| 145 students
Rank: #22.
Polk County High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1681 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2525
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2525
Grades: 9-12
| 593 students
Rank: #33.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
100 School Place
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Grades: PK-5
| 386 students
Rank: #44.
Polk Central Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2141 South Nc9 Hwy
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-8233
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-8233
Grades: PK-5
| 382 students
Rank: #55.
Polk County Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
321 Wolverine Trail
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-2215
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-2215
Grades: 6-8
| 471 students
Rank: #66.
Polk County Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1545 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Grades: 9-12
| 55 students
Rank: #77.
Sunny View Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
86 Sunny View School Road
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Grades: PK-5
| 124 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Polk County Schools School District?
Polk County Schools School District manages 7 public schools serving 2,156 students.
What is the rank of Polk County Schools School District?
Polk County Schools School District is ranked #59 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%) and Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Polk County Schools School District?
76% of Polk County Schools School District students are White, 12% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Black, 5% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Polk County Schools School District?
Polk County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Polk County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,184 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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