RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina students reached a three-year peak in standardized test performance during the 2024-25 academic year, while graduation rates hit a 10-year high, according to data presented to the State Board of Education today.
Test Scores Show Broad Improvement
Students demonstrated improvement across the majority of assessments, scoring higher in 12 of 15 math and reading tests compared to the previous year. Only third-grade reading, English II, and NC Math I showed declines from 2023-24 results.
The average composite ACT score for 11th graders rebounded to 18.2 in 2024-25, up from 18.1 the previous year. The ACT serves as a key indicator of college readiness for high school students.
Graduation Rates Reach Decade High
The four-year cohort graduation rate climbed to 87.7%, representing a 0.7 percentage point increase from the previous year’s 87.0%. This marks the highest graduation rate North Carolina has achieved in the past decade.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green praised the progress while emphasizing the work ahead. “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,” Green said. “While the progress and growth shown in these reports deserves praise, we must continue our work to promote excellence for all students.”
English Language Learners Show Notable Gains
English Language learners experienced significant improvement, with the percentage of students meeting progress targets or exiting English Language learner status jumping from 27% in 2023-24 to 35% in 2024-25. This represents the continuation of a three-year upward trend.
Hurricane Helene Impact Acknowledged
Hurricane Helene’s disruption to western North Carolina schools was factored into this year’s results. The U.S. Department of Education granted waivers for fall end-of-course testing, with 10 schools opting to use this accommodation. All affected schools will have the lost instructional days noted on their data reports and accountability measures.
School Performance Grades Improve Statewide
Approximately 71% of schools met or exceeded growth expectations in 2024-25. The number of schools earning A, B, or C grades increased, while those receiving D or F grades declined by nearly two percentage points.
Nearly 50 fewer schools were designated as low-performing compared to the previous year, with 60 fewer schools labeled as continually low-performing.
District Success Stories Highlight Best Practices
Cleveland County Schools Transformation
Cleveland County Schools achieved a notable milestone with none of its four middle schools designated as low-performing for the first time in four years. Three of the four schools met or exceeded growth expectations.
The district’s success stems from implementing Marzano’s High Reliability Model across all middle schools, developing a unified instructional framework, fostering collaborative school culture, and deploying specialized math and literacy facilitators.
Nash County Excellence
Nash Early College High School earned an “A” rating while exceeding growth expectations, posting some of the district’s highest proficiency levels and maintaining a 100% graduation rate. The school’s six-year record of exceeding growth reflects its data-driven approach and collaborative culture involving teachers, families, and educational partners including Nash Community College.
Strategic Plan Goals Drive Future Improvement
The results align with Pillar I of the state’s Strategic Plan, which focuses on preparing each student for their next life phase. Three key measures guide this effort:
- Increasing the percentage of students scoring levels 3, 4, or 5 on End of Grade/End of Course tests
- Raising the average ACT composite score to 20 by 2030
- Boosting the adjusted four-year cohort graduation rate to 92% by 2030
Green emphasized that these results serve as a foundation for future improvement. “The goal of the Strategic Plan is that North Carolina’s public schools will be the best in the nation by 2030,” he stated. “The measures and actions in our joint strategic plan with the State Board of Education provide us with the roadmap to build on the incredible hard work and diligence of students and educators across the state.”
Science Assessment Changes
New science and biology assessments aligned to updated content standards were implemented in 2024-25, making year-to-year comparisons inappropriate for these subjects. Students in grades 5 and 8 take science assessments, while high school students complete biology evaluations.
The 2024-25 academic year data represents continued progress in North Carolina’s efforts to achieve educational excellence, with officials expressing optimism about meeting ambitious 2030 goals for student achievement and graduation rates.
