GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Wayne County Public Schools (WCPS) announced significant academic performance gains for the second consecutive year this week, with district leaders celebrating what they call a remarkable transformation.
District Climbs from 91st to 62nd in State Rankings
Since Dr. Marc A. Whichard assumed the superintendent role in summer 2023, the district has experienced unprecedented growth. “When I first became superintendent in the summer of 2023, our school district was ranked 91 out of 115 school districts in the state based on academic results,” Dr. Whichard stated. “The efforts of our staff and students have catapulted our district’s academic ranking to 62 in just two years.”
The superintendent outlined ambitious goals for continued improvement, aiming to reach a mid-40s district ranking by next year.
Significant Achievement Gains Across Multiple Areas
The Wayne County Board of Education received its annual school accountability update for the 2024-2025 school year Monday evening, revealing substantial progress across the district:
Overall Performance
- WCPS grew 3.6 percentage points in overall achievement composite scores across all subjects
- Ranked #2 in the Southeast region for growth in overall achievement
- Achieved #1 ranking in the Southeast region for consecutive two-year growth
Mathematics Excellence
The district showed particularly strong performance in mathematics:
- Math 1 achievement increased by 10 percentage points, surpassing regional and state scores
- Math 3 scores jumped 23 percentage points, approaching regional and state benchmarks
Individual School Performance Highlights
Growth Recognition
Of the district’s 31 schools:
- 11 schools exceeded growth expectations
- 15 schools met growth targets
- 5 schools did not meet growth standards
Two WCPS schools earned statewide recognition for exceptional performance. Eastern Wayne Middle School ranked third in the state for academic growth, while Spring Creek High School claimed fourth place. Notably, Spring Creek High School achieved the highest growth among all high schools statewide.
Letter Grade Improvements
Seven schools improved by a full letter grade:
- One school advanced from B to A
- Three schools moved from C to B
- Two schools improved from D to C
- One school jumped from F to C
The district’s current grade distribution includes three A-rated schools, four B-rated schools, 14 C-rated schools, seven D-rated schools, and two F-rated schools.
Leadership Credits Collaborative Effort
Dr. Whichard emphasized that the success stems from classroom-level dedication. “Many have heard me say that I have not taken a single test or taught a single lesson,” he noted. “These continued strides in academic gains are directly tied to the hard work occurring in our classrooms each and every day.”
The superintendent acknowledged the contributions of teachers, families, staff, administrators, Board of Education members, and community partners in supporting student learning.
Looking Forward
Despite celebrating recent achievements, district leadership maintains focus on continued improvement. “While I am pleased that we were able to pause and recognize our 2024-2025 academic performance results this week, there is still much work ahead,” Dr. Whichard stated.
The district remains committed to increasing academic performance and establishing WCPS as the preferred school choice for families in the region.
Detailed school-level achievement data will become available to families and community members once the North Carolina School Report Card website updates with 2024-2025 school year information.
