NC State Test Scores Hit 59.2% Proficiency, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels

Key points

• Statewide proficiency on state exams reached 59.2% for the 2025-26 school year, surpassing the 58.8% rate recorded in 2019.
• The state awards A through F letter grades to public schools, with 80% of the grade based on exam passing rates and only 20% on student growth.
• Math proficiency for grades 3-8 rose to 59.6%, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, while reading proficiency reached 55.7%, remaining slightly below the pre-pandemic rate of 57%.
• The state’s graduation rate hit a record high of 88.8% this spring, according to the Department of Public Instruction.
• Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools removed six schools from the state’s low-performing list, including Ibraham Elementary, which improved from an F to a C grade.

Background

North Carolina’s accountability system has faced criticism for its heavy reliance on standardized test scores rather than growth metrics, a structure similar to Texas’s A-F grading system which has drawn scrutiny for disproportionately affecting low-income schools. Recent state budget changes have increased funding for teacher leadership and literacy training, aiming to address persistent gaps in educational outcomes.

How outlets are covering it

The Raleigh News & Observer and Charlotte Observer emphasize the statewide improvement in proficiency rates and the return to pre-pandemic benchmarks, highlighting the correlation between school poverty levels and letter grades. WRAL focuses on specific subject-area gains, noting that math proficiency surpassed pre-pandemic levels while reading remained slightly behind, and highlights the state’s push for 'career and college ready' standards. WXII provides a district-specific perspective, detailing how Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools overcame a $46.1 million budget deficit to achieve significant improvements, including a 90% graduation rate at West Forsyth High School. While all sources acknowledge the positive trend, WRAL and the News & Observer stress that averages mask individual student struggles, and the Charlotte Observer notes that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also exceeded pre-pandemic rates for the first time.

Why it matters

These results indicate a gradual recovery in North Carolina’s public education system following the pandemic, but they also highlight persistent structural challenges. The heavy weighting of test scores in letter grades may not fully reflect student progress, and the ongoing disparity between affluent and low-income schools suggests that systemic inequities remain. As the state invests in new literacy and math standards, the focus is shifting toward ensuring that all students, regardless of background, receive grade-level instruction and support to close the achievement gap.

What to watch

The Department of Public Instruction plans to work more closely with low-performing districts to provide expertise and planning. State lawmakers have increased funding for teacher leadership and literacy training, with $13.8 million allocated for middle school teacher literacy training. The state is also exploring new math standards to improve student engagement and application of math concepts. Future accountability measures will likely emphasize 'career and college ready' standards, moving beyond simple grade-level proficiency.