In a significant stride for education in North Carolina, public school students have achieved remarkable academic progress during the 2025-26 school year. Data showcased at the State Board of Education meeting highlights record-high graduation rates and improved standardized test performance, underscoring the state’s commitment to educational excellence.
The graduation rate for students completing their education in four years has reached a new peak at 88.8%, surpassing the previous year’s 87.8%. This achievement aligns with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) strategic objectives outlined in the Achieving Educational Excellence plan, which aims to position North Carolina’s public schools as leaders in the nation.
“These academic achievement results are a testament to the incredible work happening across North Carolina’s public schools,” praised North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green. “While I am pleased to see these results trending positively, including our highest graduation rate ever, I look forward to continued progress as we aim to achieve educational excellence for all North Carolina public school students and become the best public education system in the nation.”
Student proficiency across all grades and subjects has seen an uptick, with 59.2% of students meeting proficiency standards in end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) assessments, marking the highest rate in the past three years. Notably, proficiency was at its highest for 14 out of 15 reading and math tests, reflecting a broad advancement across different student demographics.
Additionally, the proportion of students deemed college and career ready—scoring a 4 or 5 on EOG and EOC exams—rose to 37.5%, up from 34.7% the year before. Improvements were recorded in 16 of the 18 tests administered, with grade 3 and 4 reading remaining unchanged.
Science scores showed considerable improvement, especially in biology, where proficiency leaped from 48% to 59% within a year. Other grades, such as grades 5 and 8, also experienced enhancements in science proficiency over the past two years.
English Language learners registered progress as well, with 36% making advancements or exiting the program, indicating a nine-point increase from 2023-24.
The average ACT composite score for 11th graders climbed to 18.4, with 55% of students achieving a score of 17 or higher, meeting the University of North Carolina system’s entry requirements. An adjustment in scoring due to a technical issue discovered in spring 2026 boosted these results, and NCDPI plans to monitor future ACT outcomes closely.
Participation in ACT WorkKeys saw an increase, reaching 52,623 students, a rise of 11% since 2024. However, the percentage of students earning a silver or higher certificate slightly declined to 59% from 60% in the previous year.
School Performance Grades have generally improved, with more schools earning higher marks and fewer schools receiving D or F ratings. The percentage of schools with D or F grades fell to 23% in 2025-26, down from 31% the prior year. Consequently, 162 fewer schools were classified as low-performing compared to the previous year, with only 10 districts labeled as low-performing, the lowest number since 2018-19.
“It is promising to see this continued improvement in student achievement in the 2025-26 accountability results,” commented NCDPI Chief Accountability Officer Dr. Michael Maher. “From graduation rates to EOG and EOC scores and school performance grades, students and educators across North Carolina should be proud of this progress. At the same time, these results alone do not capture the full breadth of the important work happening in our public schools. The work of the Accountability Task Force gives us an opportunity to consider additional measures that, alongside academic achievement, can provide a more complete picture of student progress and how well schools are preparing students for what comes next.”
These advancements are in line with the objectives of the Achieving Educational Excellence plan, specifically under Pillar 1: Prepare Each Student for Their Next Phase in Life. Stakeholders can track NCDPI’s ongoing progress regarding graduation rates and test performance through the strategic plan dashboard.
Review the 2025-26 presentation. Review the full 2025-26 data sets and reports.
About Achieving Educational Excellence
Achieving Educational Excellence: 2025-2030 is the shared strategic plan of the North Carolina State Board of Education and the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. This plan is structured around eight pillars with the goal of elevating North Carolina’s public schools to the best in the nation by 2030. The complete plan is accessible at dpi.nc.gov.
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