NC students show gains in testing, graduation rate reaches record high

North Carolina’s graduation rate reached a record high last school year as overall test proficiency climbed to its highest level in three years.

The four-year graduation rate reached 88.8%, up from 87.8% the previous year and marking the fourth consecutive annual increase, according to results the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released (opens in a new tab) Wednesday.

Overall, 59.2% of students were proficient on state end-of-grade and end-of-course tests, up from 55% in 2024-25 and the highest level in three years. Grade-level proficiency reached a three-year high on 14 of 15 reading and math tests.

“These academic achievement results are a testament to the incredible work happening across North Carolina’s public schools,” North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green said. “While I am pleased to see these results trending positively, including our highest graduation rate ever, I look forward to continued progress.”

The percentage of students who reached the state’s college- and career-readiness benchmark also increased, from 34.7% to 37.5%.

The two measures capture different levels of performance. Students need to score at level 3 or higher to meet the state’s grade-level proficiency standard. The college- and career-readiness benchmark requires a level 4 or 5.

“Although 59.2% of students are grade-level proficient, only 37.5% are college and career ready. That is an area that we will focus on,” Dr. Stacy Wilson-Norman told the State Board of Education.

Proficiency increased across every racial and ethnic group, as well as among English learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students.

North Carolina had 523 low-performing schools last year, down from 685 the year before. The number of low-performing districts fell from 23 to 10.

The percentage of schools receiving a D or F rating fell to 23%, from 31% the previous year, according to DPI.

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In Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, 136 schools earned an A, B or C, up from 124 the previous year. Superintendent Crystal Hill said the district has focused its leadership meetings on analyzing student data and used the information to identify areas for improvement and direct support to schools.

“School leaders, coaches, and teachers now collaborate to isolate areas for improvement and deploy resources immediately,” Hill said during a press conference.

Robeson County came off the state’s low-performing district list for the first time since 2017-18. Its overall grade-level proficiency increased by 7.6%, while the number of schools that met or exceeded expected growth rose from 23 to 28.