Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Polk Schools ranked as 2^nd best system in the state

POLK COUNTY—Polk County has once again been listed as the second best school system in the state of North Carolina.

Polk County was ranked by Niche just behind Chapel Hill, which continues to be number one.

Polk County received an A in academics; an A+ for teachers, and A- for clubs and activities; a B+ for diversity; an A- for college prep; an A for health and safety; an A+ for administration; a B- in sports; a B in food and an A for resources and facilities.

Polk County’s average graduation rate is 87 percent, the average SAT score is 1,140 and the average ACT score is 25.

The average teacher salary for Polk County is $47,318, according to Niche. Polk County also has 72.5 percent of its students on free or reduced lunch, according to Niche.

“Polk County Schools is a highly rated, public school district located in Columbus, N.C.,” Niche said.

The school system, which includes four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, has 2,212 students in preschool and K-12. The schools have a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 and 63 percent of students are at least proficient in math and 60 percent proficient in reading.

Asheville City Schools ranked 5^th, which was the closest ranking to Polk County in the area.

Henderson County Schools ranked as the 14^th best system in the state, while Buncombe County Schools ranked the 20^th best in the state; Transylvania County Schools ranked 31^st best in the state and Rutherford County Schools ranked 33^rd best in the state.

Polk County also ranked number one for safest school districts in the state out of 116 districts; number one of best places to teach in the state out of 115 districts and the number one district with the best teachers in the state out of 115 districts, according to Niche.