Columbus Career and College Academy

Q: Is Columbus Career and College Academy a good school?

Columbus Career and College Academy ranks 255 th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Columbus Career and College Academy is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Whiteville, North Carolina, with a student population of 249. The school is part of the Columbus County Schools district, which is ranked 183 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Columbus Career and College Academy has a diverse student population, with 55.82% White, 18.07% African American, and 21.69% Hispanic students, which is notably different from the nearby schools like East Columbus Junior-Senior High, Thomas Academy, and South Columbus High. The school has shown mixed academic performance, outperforming the district and state in several End-of-Course (EOC) exams, but underperforming in Math I. Notably, the school has strong performance for African American and Hispanic students, ranking 88th and 118th out of North Carolina high schools, respectively, but lower performance for White students.

One of the most significant challenges facing Columbus Career and College Academy is its exceptionally high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.76% to 98.87% over the past three school years. This high level of economic disadvantage likely has a substantial impact on student learning and achievement, and the school may need to implement targeted strategies to support these students. Additionally, the school's enrollment has decreased from 249 students in the 2022-2023 school year to 249 students in the 2023-2024 school year, a trend that may be worth further investigation.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4564 Chadbourn Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472

(910) 788-6281

District: Columbus County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
255^th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,813

Student/teacher ratio: 18.3

Number of students: 242

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.0%

Hispanic:

20.7%

African American:

19.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 97.1%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Columbus Career and College Academy to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Columbus Career and College Academy ranks better than 60.2% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 4 ranked high schools in the Columbus County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.14. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Columbus Career and College Academy has the smallest high school student body size in the Columbus County Schools District. Student population at Columbus Career and College Academy is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (55%), Hispanic (20.7%), African American (19%). (See more...)

Compare Details 97.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Columbus County Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbus Career and College Academy is 18.3, which is the highest among 4 high schools in the Columbus County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Columbus Career and College Academy employs 13.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbus Career and College Academy is $6,813, which is the lowest among 4 high schools in the Columbus County Schools District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Columbus Career and College Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus Career and College Academy 255^th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Columbus Career and College Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Columbus County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus County Schools 183^rd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Columbus Career and College Academy.

What do you think?

Your rating for Columbus Career and College Academy?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Columbus Career and College Academy

Compare

Rank History for all students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	49.51	276^th	594	53.5%
2022	44.70	324^th	621	47.8%
2023	40.68	348^th	626	44.4%
2024	56.14	255^th	640	60.2%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	41.61	277^th	544	49.1%
2023	44.32	285^th	597	52.3%
2024	58.06	197^th	613	67.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	37.85	361^st	594	39.2%
2023	42.94	332^nd	588	43.5%
2024	52.28	274^th	602	54.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	52.05	253^rd	585	56.8%
2023	36.02	371^st	602	38.4%
2024	58.63	230^th	607	62.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	39.87	224^th	430	47.9%
2023	42.32	211^th	434	51.4%
2024	73.91	88^th	437	79.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	70.18	101^st	449	77.5%
2024	64.13	118^th	454	74.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	38.89	325^th	534	39.1%
2023	25.79	420^th	537	21.8%
2024	42.33	329^th	553	40.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Monday, September 30, 2019

My son loves CCCA. FAIR BLUFF CAMPUS .HE SEEMS TO LIKE HIS CLASSES AND TEACHERS. He is looking forward to the challenge of College !!!!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Columbus Career and College Academy

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2007	38	11	0	2	3	n/a	n/a	1	55
2008	61	23	0	9	7	n/a	n/a	2	102
2009	98	31	0	16	8	n/a	n/a	0	153
2010	120	36	2	17	12	n/a	n/a	0	187
2011	102	28	0	18	12	0	4	0	164
2012	130	29	0	19	10	0	5	0	193
2013	124	24	0	22	9	0	6	0	185
2014	138	42	0	28	8	0	4	0	220
2015	173	59	0	34	8	0	4	0	278
2016	183	68	0	36	8	1	5	0	301
2017	190	74	0	40	7	1	9	0	321
2018	207	79	0	34	7	1	12	0	340
2019	199	71	1	42	8	1	11	0	333
2020	186	55	1	44	6	0	11	0	303
2021	160	47	1	42	7	0	8	0	265
2022	140	45	1	43	4	0	8	0	241
2023	139	45	0	54	4	0	7	0	249
2024	133	46	0	50	4	0	9	0	242

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Columbus Career and College Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	55	2.0	27.5	33.3
2008	102	4.0	25.5	47
2009	153	6.0	25.5	n/a
2010	187	6.9	27.1	48.7
2011	164	7.5	21.8	56.7
2012	193	10.6	18.0	60.1
2013	185	11.3	16.3	52.4
2014	220	11.2	19.5	55.9
2015	278	11.0	25.2	48.6
2016	301	12.0	25.0	98.7
2017	321	12.5	25.6	96.9
2018	340	11.6	29.3	97.4
2019	333	11.3	29.2	99.1
2020	303	12.1	25.0	99
2021	265	12.5	21.2	98.9
2022	241	13.0	18.5	98.8
2023	249	13.6	18.2	98.8
2024	242	13.2	18.3	97.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Columbus Career and College Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	55	2.0	27.5	33.3
2008	102	4.0	25.5	47
2009	153	6.0	25.5	n/a
2010	187	6.9	27.1	48.7
2011	164	7.5	21.8	56.7
2012	193	10.6	18.0	60.1
2013	185	11.3	16.3	52.4
2014	220	11.2	19.5	55.9
2015	278	11.0	25.2	48.6
2016	301	12.0	25.0	98.7
2017	321	12.5	25.6	96.9
2018	340	11.6	29.3	97.4
2019	333	11.3	29.2	99.1
2020	303	12.1	25.0	99
2021	265	12.5	21.2	98.9
2022	241	13.0	18.5	98.8
2023	249	13.6	18.2	98.8
2024	242	13.2	18.3	97.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Columbus Career and College Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$326 (4.8%)	$6,488 (95.2%)	$6,813

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbus Career and College Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Columbus Career and College Academy)	55	42.9	12.1%
End of Course Biology (Columbus County Schools)	55	38.6	16.4%
End of Course Biology (North Carolina)	59.6	54.1	5.5%
End of Course English II (Columbus Career and College Academy)	78	63.1	14.9%
End of Course English II (Columbus County Schools)	52.1	46.7	5.4%
End of Course English II (North Carolina)	59.7	58.5	1.2%
End of Course Math I (Columbus Career and College Academy)	27.5	33.8	6.3%
End of Course Math I (Columbus County Schools)	33.3	24.5	8.8%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Columbus Career and College Academy)	57.3	51.4	5.9%
End of Course Math III (Columbus County Schools)	40	46.2	6.2%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	333	249	25.2%
African American	71	45	36.6%
American Indian	8	4	50%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	42	54	28.6%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	199	139	30.2%
Two or More Races	11	7	36.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	99.1%	98.8%	0.3%

Schools Near Columbus Career and College Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	EOG Mathematics (2024)		EOG Reading (2024)		EOG Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbus Career and College Academy	Public	9-12	4564 Chadbourn Hwy	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 788-6281	242	13	18.3	97.1%	133 (55.0%)	46 (19.0%)	50 (20.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.7%)	56.1	255^th of 640 public high schools	60.2%		40.7	348^th of 626 public high schools	44.4%	93	56.3	71.7	41.3	63.0						$6,813	$326	$6,488
North Whiteville Academy	Public	6-12	310 S Martin Luther King Jr Av	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 914-4161	23	6	3.8	87.0%	6 (26.1%)	14 (60.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (13.0%)								(n/a)										$24,391	$612	$23,779
Whiteville High	Public	9-12	413 N Lee Street	Whiteville	28472	Columbus County	Whiteville City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 914-4189	635	43	14.8	99.5%	251 (39.5%)	238 (37.5%)	84 (13.2%)	8 (1.3%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.4%)	45.2	331^st of 640 public high schools	48.3%		31.7	421^st of 626 public high schools	32.7%	90	49.7	56.4	28.2	70.4						$10,302	$1,532	$8,770
West Columbus High	Public	9-12	7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy	Cerro Gordo	28430	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 654-6111	455	29	15.9	99.3%	206 (45.3%)	194 (42.6%)	21 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.8%)	17.1	537^th of 640 public high schools	16.1%		17.4	528^th of 626 public high schools	15.7%	9	16.8	35.2	27.2	45.8						$11,672	$1,304	$10,369
South Columbus High	Public	9-12	40 Stallion Drive	Tabor City	28463	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 653-4073	689	42	16.5	99.4%	437 (63.4%)	154 (22.4%)	76 (11.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.5%)	31.3	439^th of 640 public high schools	31.4%		37.4	377^th of 626 public high schools	39.8%	62	43.7	42.0	42.6	43.9						$9,661	$1,025	$8,636
Thomas Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	206-B Rube MCCRAY Circle	Lake Waccamaw	28450	Columbus County	Thomas Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(910) 646-2237	70	3	22.8		19 (27.1%)	21 (30.0%)	17 (24.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (17.1%)								(n/a)						6.3		18.8	25.0
East Columbus Junior-Senior High	Public	7-12	32 Gator Lane	Lake Waccamaw	28450	Columbus County	Columbus County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 646-4094	560	38	14.7	99.5%	154 (27.5%)	179 (32.0%)	95 (17.0%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (10.2%)	15.8	546^th of 640 public high schools	14.7%		17.7	526^th of 626 public high schools	16.0%	20	15.1	34.9	16.5	47.5	50.0	20.2	39.3	30.5	42.1	$10,383	$1,233	$9,149

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus Career and College Academy

What district is Columbus Career and College Academy in?

Columbus County Schools

Is Columbus Career and College Academy a good school?

Columbus Career and College Academy ranks 255^th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Columbus Career and College Academy?

Students at Columbus Career and College Academy are 55% White, 21% Hispanic, 19% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

How many students attend Columbus Career and College Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 242 students attended Columbus Career and College Academy.

Rate Columbus Career and College Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NCNorth Carolina High School Rankings

NCNorth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in Whiteville, NC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Columbus Career and College Academy!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.