Math, reading, four-year graduation metrics all up

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor

photo by Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – North Carolina public school students did better on 12 of 15 math and reading standardized tests taken at the end of the school year last spring, according to new data presented to the State Board of Education on Wednesday.

Scores dropped in third-grade reading, English and Math I, according to the data. All other test scores increased over the 2023-24 school year.

The four-year graduation rate was the highest in a decade, increasing to 87.7%, from 87% in 2023-24.

The number of schools designated low performing dropped by nearly 50 fewer and there were 60 fewer schools designated “continually low performing.”

Average 11th grade scores on the ACT college readiness test were up slightly, to 18.2 compared to 18.1 in 2023-24.

“While the progress and growth shown in these reports deserves praise, we must continue our work to promote excellence for all students,” first-term Democratic Superintendent Mo Green said in a statement. “Our plan is to Achieve Educational Excellence – for every child in North Carolina and to have the best public schools in the nation. I am eager to see this data continue to improve as we work to implement our strategic plan.”

Green was elected to his position in November and took the helm in January. He succeeded Republican Catherine Truitt, the state's superintendent during COVID-19, and defeated Republican Michele Morrow in the general election.

Ten schools opted out of testing because of Hurricane Helene which struck the western part of the state last fall.

While the test scores were encouraging, they also illustrate the need for continued hard work, Chairman Eric Davis told the board Wednesday.

He cited early literacy, math and students with disabilities, English-language learners and students with economically disadvantaged backgrounds as particular areas needing improvement.

“Taken together, today’s agenda demonstrates our dual focus – holding ourselves accountable to outcomes while continuously refining the policy support structure that make positive outcomes possible.”

The test scores provide a snapshot of student performance on a single day, board member Jill Camnitz noted Wednesday.

“While they are valuable measures, they do not capture the full breadth of a student’s learning, growth, or school experience,” Camnitz said. “These results are best understood as benchmarks that inform our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.”

Tammy Howard, senior director of Office of Accountability and Testing at the Department of Instruction, said in reviewing the scores, “We are looking backward at what happened in 2024-25, but that is not the entire story.”

It’s also important to focus on “continuous improvement,” she said.

Howard highlighted the increase in the four-year graduation rate to 87.7%.

“This is the third consecutive year of an increase and the highest cohort graduation rate ever,” she said. “That is quite an accomplishment for the state of North Carolina.”

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David Beasley is a contributor for The Center Square.