NC Schools Post 59.2% Proficiency on 2025-26 State Tests; Grades Remain Tied to Passing Rates
North Carolina’s 2025-26 state exams show a 59.2% proficiency rate, the first time the passing rate topped the 2019 pre-pandemic 58.8% mark; statewide A–F letter grades continue to be driven mostly by exam passing rates (20% growth), with a long-standing link between higher poverty levels and lower grades; a searchable database lets readers view results for every public school.