North Carolina Students Show Progress in Standardized Testing
North Carolina’s students have marked a notable improvement in standardized testing, achieving their highest scores in three years for the 2024-25 academic period. This data, presented to the State Board of Education, highlights a promising development in the state’s educational performance.
Out of 15 math and reading assessments, students improved their scores in 12, although areas like third-grade reading, English II, and NC Math I showed a slight decline compared to the 2023-24 results. The average ACT composite score for 11th graders experienced a slight recovery, moving up to 18.2 from the previous year’s 18.1.
These achievements align with Pillar I of the Strategic Plan, which aims to prepare students for future challenges. The four-year cohort graduation rate also saw an increase, reaching 87.7%, the highest in a decade.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green commented, “I’m proud of our students and educators who have worked hard to improve these metrics even as we acknowledge that our students are more than test scores.” He emphasized the continued effort to achieve educational excellence across the state.
New science and Biology standards introduced this year mean that results from these assessments are not comparable to previous years. Students in grades 5 and 8, along with high schoolers, took these updated tests.
English Language Learners’ Progress
English Language learners also demonstrated progress. The percentage of students meeting progress targets or exiting EL status increased from 27% in 2023-24 to 35% in 2024-25, continuing a positive trend over the past three years.
Impact of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene’s disruption led the U.S. Department of Education to grant a waiver for schools in western districts affected by lost instructional days. Ten schools took advantage of this waiver for end-of-course testing in the fall. The impact of these lost days will be reflected in various educational reports.
School Performance Grades
There was a notable improvement in school performance grades, with more schools achieving A, B, or C grades, and a decrease in those receiving D or F. Approximately 71% of schools met or exceeded growth expectations, with nearly 50 fewer schools being labeled as low-performing compared to the previous year.
Cleveland County and Nash County Schools have shown significant commitment to improving education. Cleveland County’s middle schools, for instance, saw none labeled as low-performing for the first time in four years. The district’s use of Marzano’s High Reliability Model (HRM) contributed to this success.
In Nash County, Nash Early College High School achieved an “A” rating and exceeded growth expectations, boasting a 100% graduation rate, thanks to a collaborative approach among educators and partners.
Commitment to Educational Excellence
The Strategic Plan sets ambitious goals, including increasing EOG/EOC test scores and the ACT composite score, and boosting the graduation rate to 92% by 2030. Green emphasized the importance of leveraging these results as a foundation for continuous improvement.
“The goal of the Strategic Plan is that North Carolina’s public schools will be the best in the nation by 2030,” Green stated, underscoring the roadmap provided by the strategic plan to enhance the educational standards in the state.
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