Polk County Schools
Public
Regional · 3 towns Grades PK–12 B+School Grade
Public schools for Tryon, Columbus and Saluda.
At a glance
2,110Students enrolled
7Schools
3Towns served
$16,033Spent per student
14:1Student–teacher ratio
99%Free / reduced lunch
School path
Where would my kid go?
Based on district boundaries from the U.S. Department of Education. Where a town has more than one school at a grade, your street decides; check with the district before you enroll.
Academic performanceDistrict vs NC
Math proficiency58%
State average 41.9%
Reading / language arts62%
State average 47.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)87%
State average 87.7%
EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (tests 2020–21; graduation 2019–20). The tick marks the state average.
Where the money goes
$16,033
per student each year · 23% above the NC average
Spending
Paid for by
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (fiscal 2024).
Enrollment · last 5 years
2,154’20
2,129’21
2,166’22
2,156’23
2,110’24
Students
White · 76%1,595
Hispanic · 13%277
Black · 6%119
Two or more races · 5%108
Asian · 0%9
American Indian/Alaska Native · 0%1
Across the district's schools, as reported to NCES.
Towns served
Schools7 in district
Polk Central Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 379 students · Mill Spring
APublicTryon Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 367 students · Tryon
APublicSaluda Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 142 students · Saluda
APublicSunny View Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 120 students · Mill Spring
BPublicPolk County Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 454 students · Mill Spring
B+PublicPolk County High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 596 students · Columbus
APublicPolk County Early CollegeHigh · Grades 9–12 · 52 students · Columbus
C+PublicSchool data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES). Ratings are from neighbors on TownTapestry.
District facts from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory and school district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau's school finance survey. Test scores and graduation rates from EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings reflect opinions, not an official measure of school quality.