North Carolina Graduation Rate Hits Record 88.8% as Test Scores Climb

RALEIGH — North Carolina public school students posted another year of gains in 2025-26, including a record four-year graduation rate and higher scores on most state tests, according to accountability results presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education.

The four-year cohort graduation rate rose to 88.8%, up from a record 87.8% the year before. State officials said the increase moves public schools closer to a “Best in Nation” target in the Department of Public Instruction’s strategic plan.

“These academic achievement results are a testament to the incredible work happening across North Carolina’s public schools,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green said. “While I am pleased to see these results trending positively, including our highest graduation rate ever, I look forward to continued progress as we aim to achieve educational excellence for all North Carolina public school students and become the best public education system in the nation.”

For families in Clay County and neighboring mountain districts, the statewide numbers land against a backdrop of generally strong local performance in recent years. Clay County Schools, based in Hayesville, has consistently ranked among the higher-performing small districts in the state on reading and math, and district leaders have long pointed to graduation and test results well above many larger systems.

Statewide, 59.2% of students were proficient on the combined end-of-grade and end-of-course exams — the highest composite in three years. Grade-level proficiency (scores of 3, 4 or 5) hit three-year highs on 14 of 15 reading and math tests. Every racial and ethnic subgroup also posted its best results of the past three years, though officials noted that gaps remain and more work is needed.

College-and-career ready scores (4 or 5) rose to 37.5% of students, up from 34.7% in 2024-25. Those higher-bar results improved on 16 of 18 tests. The two exceptions were third- and fourth-grade reading.

Science showed some of the sharpest jumps. Biology proficiency climbed from 48% to 59% in a single year. Fifth- and eighth-grade science also improved over two years.

English learners continued to gain. The share of those students making progress or exiting English-learner status reached 36%, up from 27% in 2023-24 and the highest mark in three years.

Eleventh-graders’ average ACT composite rose to 18.4, with 55% scoring 17 or higher — the UNC System’s typical minimum for admission. Officials cautioned that this year’s ACT numbers include a one-time scoring correction after ACT found a technical problem on spring 2026 school-day online tests and rescored exams nationwide. NCDPI said it will watch future years closely so the bump is not mistaken for a lasting trend.

WorkKeys participation grew 11% to 52,623 students. The share earning a silver certificate or higher slipped slightly to 59%, from 60% in 2023-24.

School Performance Grades also improved. Fewer schools earned D or F ratings — 23% this year, down from 31%. That meant 162 fewer schools designated low-performing and nearly 100 fewer labeled continually low-performing. Only 10 districts were designated low-performing, 13 fewer than last year and the fewest since 2018-19.

Grades combine achievement, growth, English-learner progress and, for high schools, ACT, WorkKeys, math rigor and graduation rates.

“It is promising to see this continued improvement in student achievement in the 2025-26 accountability results,” said NCDPI Chief Accountability Officer Dr. Michael Maher. “From graduation rates to EOG and EOC scores and school performance grades, students and educators across North Carolina should be proud of this progress.”

Maher added that test scores and grades do not capture everything schools do. An Accountability Task Force is reviewing additional measures that could give a fuller picture of how well students are prepared for work and college.