Celebrating Excellence in North Carolina Public Schools
North Carolina public schools are achieving historic results. From record-breaking career credentials to historic graduation rates, our 1.5 million students and over 110,000 educators are building a brighter future for our state.
This page spotlights recent accomplishments across North Carolina’s public schools. We update this page regularly with new achievements and good news from schools across the state in addition to quarterly updates on Achieving Educational Excellence, the 2025-2030 strategic plan.
Historic Highlights
In the 2024-2025 school year, North Carolina’s public school students reached historic milestones:
- College-Level Course Achievement: Set a new record for college-level course achievement, with 54% of the Class of 2025 passing at least one college-level course — through Advanced Placement, Career and College Promise, International Baccalaureate or other programs — the highest percentage ever recorded in North Carolina.
- Graduation Rate: Achieved an 87.7% four-year cohort graduation rate – highest in state history.
- Advanced Placement (AP): Attained record levels of participation and performance, with more than 90,000 students taking at least one AP exam and 72.1% earning scores that qualify them for college credit at UNC System institutions. This exceeds the national average of 70.1%.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE): Set new records for career preparation, with 36.1% of students participating in a CTE course and more than 380,000 industry-recognized credentials earned. North Carolina ranks second in the nation for percentage of students participating in CTE courses.
North Carolina Public Schools Are...
College and Career Ready
In 2024-2025, 54% of North Carolina public high school graduates passed at least one college-level course — the highest percentage ever recorded in state history. Through Advanced Placement, Career and College Promise, International Baccalaureate and other college-level programs, more than half of the Class of 2025 demonstrated they are ready for what comes next. Learn more about Career and College Promise.
Student Growth
In 2024-25, student performance increased in many reading areas and across all math testing areas in grades 3-8 and NC Math I, and 71% of North Carolina schools met or exceeded expected growth on end-of-year assessments. View the full Accountability Report.
Dual Enrollment and Early College
In 2024-2025, nearly 87,000 public high school students were enrolled in at least one college course through Career and College Promise — a 10% increase from the prior year — and 38% of all graduates earned college credit through dual enrollment, both all-time highs. North Carolina is also a national leader in early college high schools, with 138 Cooperative Innovative High Schools providing students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously, at no cost to students or families. In 2024-2025, 6,560 students graduated from a Cooperative Innovative High School, and 3,498 earned an associate degree alongside their diploma. Learn more about Career and College Promise and Early Colleges.
NC College Connect
More than 23,000 public high school seniors accepted direct admission offers from North Carolina colleges and universities through NC College Connect in the 2025-26 school year. The program removes barriers to higher education by providing admission to qualifying students with no traditional application required. Learn more about NC College Connect.
National Assessment (NAEP)
North Carolina students are ahead of the national average in eighth grade math and tracking with their peers in other tested subjects, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Learn more about NAEP.
National Board Certified Teachers
North Carolina has 24,886 National Board Certified teachers, more than any other state in the nation. This accomplishment reflects our state's deep commitment to teacher quality and professional excellence. Learn more about National Board Certification.
Artificial Intelligence Guidance
NCDPI was the fourth state education department in the nation to issue guidance on the responsible use of artificial intelligence technology in schools, helping educators navigate this emerging technology while keeping student safety and learning at the center. Learn more about Artificial Intelligence and North Carolina Public Schools.
STEM Schools of Distinction
Since 2014, the STEM Schools of Distinction program has recognized more than 50 North Carolina schools for meeting rigorous standards around science, technology, engineering and mathematics principles. Learn more about NC STEM Schools of Distinction.
Advanced Math Access
In 2018, North Carolina became the first state in the nation to require automatic enrollment in advanced math courses for all students who score at the highest level on their math end-of-grade tests, expanding access to rigorous coursework. Learn more about Advanced Math Access.
Dual Language Programs
North Carolina has one of the top dual language immersion programs in the country, preparing students for success in a global economy. In addition, more than 60,000 graduates earned the Seal of Biliteracy over the past decade. Learn more about Dual Language programs.
Achieving Educational Excellence: Our Strategic Plan
In August 2025, the North Carolina State Board of Education and North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green released Achieving Educational Excellence: 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for North Carolina Public Schools. The plan sets a clear vision: to make North Carolina's public schools the best in the nation.
The plan is built on eight pillars:
- Prepare Each Student for Their Next Phase in Life
- Revere Public School Educators
- Enhance Parent, Caregiver and Community Support
- Ensure Healthy, Safe and Secure Learning Environments
- Optimize Operational Excellence
- Lead Transformative Change
- Celebrate the Excellence in Public Education
- Galvanize Champions to Fully Invest in and Support Public Education
