North Carolina public schools size up annual review of student learning

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CMS released results from the state Thursday morning that showed the graduate rate has risen over the last seven years.

For the 2015-16 school year, the graduation rate was 89.6 percent, up from 88.3 percent.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools applauded the news that more schools had moved in to a higher performance grade.

Beverly Woods Elementary School in South Charlotte moved from a "B" level school to an "A plus."

Out of the 10 "F" schools last year, five moved up out of that category.

The district said subjects like math, science and biology saw increases from 2014 to 2016 and contributed to the success of most schools.

English II was the only subject not at or above grade-level proficiency.

Over the years, CMS has kept a close eye on reading scores for third, seventh, and 12th-graders.

The district found that for the 2015-2016 school year, only 58.5 percent of 3rd graders were reading at a proficient level. That's down from 59.4 percent from the year before.

The district found that 60.4 percent of seventh-graders were proficient readers. That's up 4 percent from 59.4 percent the year before.

Overall, CMS said 86 percent of its schools were exceeding growth.

Superintendent Ann Clark said she has a lot of goals for this year.

"[Having] 100 percent of our schools meeting or exceeding growth is one goal. Certainly the 90 percent graduation rate, and I’d like to see zero 'D' or 'F' schools, but certainly I think zero' F' schools should be non-negotiable,” Clark said.

Cox Media Group