North Carolina Hits Record 88.8% Graduation Rate

North Carolina students just proved that progress isn't just possible—it's happening right now in classrooms across the state.

Public schools recorded an 88.8% graduation rate for the 2025-26 school year, the highest in state history. That's up from 87.8% the previous year, meaning hundreds more students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

The wins didn't stop there. Students improved their performance on 16 of 18 standardized tests, with 59.2% reaching proficiency across all assessments. That's the highest rate in three years.

Nearly every student group saw gains. Reading and math proficiency hit three-year highs on 14 of 15 tests, and every racial and ethnic student group showed improvement.

English learners posted especially impressive results. The percentage of students who either made progress or exited the program jumped to 36%, up nine percentage points from two years ago and the highest level in three years.

College readiness is trending upward too. The percentage of students considered college and career ready rose to 37.5%, compared with 34.7% the previous year. Average ACT scores climbed to 18.4, with 55% of juniors scoring at least 17—the minimum needed for admission to a University of North Carolina system school.

Science scores saw dramatic gains. Biology proficiency soared from 48% to 59% in just one year, while fifth and eighth graders also improved their science performance.

The Ripple Effect

The improvements are showing up beyond test scores. Fewer schools are struggling, with the number rated D or F dropping from 31% to 23%. Nearly 162 fewer schools received low-performing designations compared to the previous year.

Only 10 school districts were labeled low-performing this year, down from 23 the year before. That's the lowest number since 2018-19, showing that entire communities are lifting their educational outcomes together.

State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green celebrated the results while keeping his eyes on bigger goals. "These academic achievement results are a testament to the incredible work happening across North Carolina's public schools," he said, noting that the state aims to become the best public education system in the nation.

North Carolina's students and teachers are writing a story of steady, measurable progress that's changing lives one classroom at a time.

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