Test scores in public schools continue to improve across North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina students continue to improve their test scores and graduation rates in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Carolina State Board of Education received the 2023-2024 state test results Wednesday. Overall, the results showed steady progress across the board.
"We are proud of the steady progress reflected in this year's state test scores. This progress highlights the hard work and incredible dedication of educators and students across the state," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt.
The Department of Public Instruction released figures showing 54.2% of students were proficient on state exams during the 2023-24 school year, compared to 53.6% during the 2022-23 school year, our newsgathering partners at The News & Observer of Raleigh reported.
The passing rate remains below the 58.8% proficiency rate during the 2018-19 school year. The first full school year during the pandemic - 2020-21 - the rate was just 45.4%, according to the newspaper.
State educators have said since 2022 that it would take time - perhaps four or five years - to rebound fully from the era of learning loss during the pandemic.
In other calculations, more individual schools met growth expectations on state exams and fewer schools were labeled as low-performing. The state uses an A-to-F grading system on schools that is largely based on proficiency rates. The state's four-year graduation rate also ticked up slightly from 86.5% during the 2022-23 school year to 86.9% this past year, according to a department release.
Tammy Howard with the Department of Public Instruction's accountability and testing office estimated the state is about 97% returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to the station.
"While test grades and letter outcomes cannot tell us everything we need to know about school and student success, North Carolina continues to see growth for most grades and subjects," Howard said in the department's release. "This is something to be proud of."
Wake County Public School System
Some good news was revealed for Wake County Public School System. The graduation rate is at a record-high of 91%, according to the NC Department of Instruction.
"I want people to recognize that that increase represents nearly 1,000 more students to graduate, and so we're paying close attention to exactly where students are," Superintendent Dr. Robert P. Taylor said.
Test scores for the district either met or exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
Crystal Argentin, a mother of a 5th grader at Beaverdam Elementary School, told ABC11 she has seen a huge improvement in her son since the school district implemented changes after the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I saw the biggest difference when they were more intentional about who was teaching my son. And that alone made a difference not only in how he learned, but in the fact that he was eager to come to school," Argentin said.
According to Beaverdam Elementary School Principal Staci McGuirt, the school and its students have come a long way in a short time.
"In December of 2022 I had several resignations. People were just burnt out so it was a tough road on top of that. That fall we had the Hedingham shooting that was really close (to the school), which just added another layer of stress on our staff and on our students and on our families. Also climate and culture at Beaverdam was not where it needed to be," McGuirt said. " had 19 vacancies; I had no fifth grade teachers. I had only half of my fourth grade teachers on staff. So we started the year really struggling to find teachers. We were fortunate enough to have the district step in and have a hiring team for us. So they were able to interview and recruit candidates."
Durham Public Schools
Data for Durham Public Schools shows College and Career Readiness (CCR) stayed relatively the same as compared to last year.
Cumberland County Schools
In Cumberland County, 17 schools were removed from the state's low-performing list. Twelve of those schools even exceeded growth expectations.
In total, 55 schools in the district increased their proficiency scores on state mandated tests.
"Having 84.1 percent of our schools meeting or exceeding those growth standards, it tells me that we are definitely moving in the right direction," Assistant Superintendent Kim Nash said. "Basically it's saying 84.1 percent of our schools are moving students at least a year or more through their academic year."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
