QUICK FACTS

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

ABCs of Public Education

Under the 2006-07 ABCs, a total of 71.8 percent of North Carolina’s public schools made expected or high growth, up 17.5 percentage points over the 54.3 percent that made growth targets in the 2005-06 school year.

In addition, 63.9 percent of students in grades 3-8 were considered at or above the proficient level in reading and mathematics and 66.4 percent of students were at or above proficiency on eight mandated end-of-course tests.

Under the 2006-07 ABCs, almost 4 percent of all schools, or 93 schools, earned designation as Honor Schools of Excellence or Schools of Excellence, the highest recognition category under the ABCs. Nineteen percent, or 463 schools, were designated Schools of Distinction.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

North Carolina’s fourth and eighth graders’ performance is on par with or better than the nation’s performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2007 Reading and Mathematics Assessments. The results are particularly noteworthy in mathematics where North Carolina is noted as the state with the most gains in NAEP math scores since 1990.

North Carolina's fourth and eighth graders' performance was consistent with the nation on NAEP's Science Assessment. The fourth graders average score was the same as the nation's and above the Southeast's. North Carolina eighth graders' average score was just below the national average but significantly similar to the Southeast.

On the 2002 NAEP Writing Assessment, North Carolina students were once again among the top performers with fourth and eighth graders scoring above the Southeast and national averages.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

The 2007 SAT results showed North Carolina’s performance declined, mirroring the nation’s overall change in performance. North Carolina’s math score dropped four points from 2006 (from 513 last year to 509 in 2007). The critical reading score stayed the same at 495. The average writing score was 485, a three-point drop from 2006 when the writing test was first included in the SAT. The state’s average combined score (critical reading and math) is 1,004 and is 13 points below the national average of 1,017, but five points higher than the Southeast average of 999.

In 2006-07, a total of 43,152 public school students took at total of 81,151 Advanced Placement tests and scored at higher levels. Students who take these college-level courses are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less, according to The College Board’s research.

STUDENT INFORMATION

Demographics

North Carolina’s public schools are more of a melting pot than ever with over 150 languages spoken! The state’s Hispanic student population has increased more than any other group. In the past 10 years, (1995-96 – 2005-06), the percentage of Hispanic students has risen from 1.9 percent, or 22,299, to 8.4 percent, or 116,021 students.

Aspirations

The number of North Carolina students dropping out of school in 2005-06 increased slightly to 5.04 percent from 4.74 percent the previous year.

The percentage of students who entered as ninth graders in 2003-04 and graduated with their class four years later or sooner was 69.4 percent. This was a slight increase from 2002-03 when 68.3 percent of entering freshmen graduated four years later or sooner. NCDPI also released its first five-year graduation rate for the 2002-03 ninth graders of 70.3 percent.

Upon graduation in 2005, almost 85 percent of the state’s public school graduates stated that they planned to further their education either through a four-year college/university, community college, junior college or trade/business school.