Testing data shows increase in proficiency for Wake Public Schools; Check your child's district
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Wake County Public School System students showed gains in standardized testing proficiency and graduation rates in the 2025-26 school year, according to newly released accountability data.
Overall proficiency across all grades and tested subjects increased 3.8% compared with the 2024-25 school year, according to the district.
Several schools saw larger increases. At Fuquay-Varina High School, testing proficiency rose more than 14% year over year and has increased more than 20% since 2022, while Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School also saw proficiency increase more than 17% year over year.
Testing proficiency is defined as scoring a 3 or higher on state tests, and the district said specific gains were made in areas including biology and math.
Educators at the schools attributed the improvements to work focused on better engaging students and strengthening instruction.
Rebecca Reynolds, a math teacher at Fuquay-Varina High School, said teachers reviewed state standards and adjusted their approach to instruction.
"We looked into the standard, saw that the students were needing to learn what were we teaching and how could we make it better? And it took an extreme amount of time. You know, we devoted, oh, you know, an hour and a half to two hours, you know, weekly together as a group and then individually putting everything together to develop the units and start fresh," Reynolds said.
The district's four-year graduation rate also increased year over year. WCPSS reported a 91.3% four-year graduation rate for the class of 2026.
Fuquay-Varina High School's four-year graduation rate also increased by nearly a percentage point from the previous year.
Hailey Parziale, a senior at Fuquay-Varina High School, said she saw a significant improvement in her math performance.
"I definitely grew a lot. I feel like I grow the most in math when I don't feel like I do, but I definitely, like, had a lot of confidence and just, like, build up, like the strength for me to just keep continuing," Parziale said.
The district also reported that all of its early college high schools had four-year graduation rates of 100%.
Mike James, principal of Fuquay-Varina High School, said the results reflect the work teachers have put into their classrooms.
"To be able to see our students become their fullest potential. You know, in the public school setting is very, very gratifying. And to watch kids grow from ninth grade to 12th grade is, to me, the best thing in public education," James said.
How other districts performed
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
All North Carolina School Districts
