Cumberland County Schools (CCS) is celebrating a major milestone as 17 schools have been removed from the state's low-performing list. This exciting news comes from the latest performance and growth data for the 2023-2024 school year, released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). These results highlight the district’s strong commitment to academic achievement and its dedication to ensuring success for every student.

The 2023-2024 NCDPI accountability report provides statewide data on student performance and growth, based on End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) assessments in ELA/Reading, Mathematics and Science. It offers insights into the percentage of students at different proficiency levels, including grade-level proficiency (Level 3 and above) and college and career readiness (Level 4 and above).

NCDPI Senior Director of Accountability and Testing Tammy Howard emphasized the importance of student growth in a press release stating: “While test scores and grades don’t tell the full story of school and student success, we are seeing positive trends across North Carolina in many grades and subjects. This is something to be proud of."

A Commitment to Excellence

CCS Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr. praised the district’s progress and acknowledged the strides made in closing achievement gaps. 

“The 2023-2024 Data and Accountability results show that our schools are on track and improving at the same pace as the state. We’ve seen significant gains in student proficiency, and the removal of 17 schools from the low-performing list demonstrates the success of our educational strategies. While there’s more work to be done, we are proud of the consistent improvement since the pandemic,” shared Dr. Connelly in a press release. 

Proficiency Highlights

CCS has made remarkable gains in student proficiency levels across the district, outpacing state trends in some key areas. Significant highlights include:

• 55 schools in the district increased their composite proficiency scores on state-mandated assessments, demonstrating improvement across the board.
• Overall, CCS’ EOC and EOG proficiency scores improved by 1.6 percentage points, which mirrors the state’s average increase.
• 33 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and 6 high schools in the district achieved double-digit gains in at least one tested subject​.
• Proficiency gains were recorded in 12 of the 19 subject areas tested with two areas remaining constant.
• There was a slight decline in 4th and 7th-grade reading, which will be a primary focus for the district moving forward.

Growth Highlights

Student growth continues to be an area of strength for CCS with the district performing above the state average in growth metrics. During the 2023-2024 school year:

• 84.1% of CCS schools met or exceeded growth expectations, surpassing the statewide average of 72.5%.
• Jack Britt High School received the maximum converted growth score of 100 for the third consecutive year.
• 50 schools in CCS improved the numerical value of their School Performance Grade, and 12 schools improved their School Performance Letter Grade.

Student growth data indicates that a majority of CCS students are making more than a year's worth of academic progress within a single school year, positioning the district favorably in comparison to state averages.

School Performance Grades and Low-Performing Schools

Among the district's significant achievements this year is the progress made by 17 schools that were successfully removed from the state’s low-performing list. This outcome underscores the dedication and efforts of CCS educators, administrators and students. Out of the 27 schools identified as low-performing in the 2022-2023 school year:

• 17 schools have been removed from the low-performing list, a significant improvement for CCS.
• 12 of those schools exceeded growth expectations, with one school just shy of exceeding growth.
• While 10 schools that improved are still on the low-performing list, they will continue receiving targeted support under the district’s improvement framework.

Overall, the number of low-performing schools in CCS has decreased from 27 to 15 for the 2024-2025 school year.

High School Graduation Rate and ACT Scores

The district’s four-year cohort graduation rate for 2023-2024 was 85.2%, a slight dip of 1.4 percentage points compared to last year, though close to the state’s average graduation rate of 86.9%. This cohort was particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting transition to virtual learning.

In terms of college readiness, 33.4% of CCS high school juniors achieved a composite score of 19 or higher on the ACT, meeting the minimum admission requirement for the UNC System. This is below the state average of 40.2%, but 10 high schools in the district saw significant increases in ACT scores, with individual school gains ranging from 1.4 to 18.6 percentage points.

Looking Ahead: Continuous Improvement

While the district is celebrating many achievements, the journey toward continuous improvement remains a priority. CCS uses the PASE framework (Performance, Accountability, Support and Empowerment) to provide tailored support to schools based on their specific needs. Schools identified as low-performing (Tier I) receive intensified support, characterized by more frequent interventions and deeper engagement with staff. This approach has already proven effective, as evidenced by the district's growth and improved performance.

"Our PASE framework is a game changer for schools needing the most support," said Dr. Connelly in a press release. "We’ve seen the positive impact in the schools that were able to move off the low-performing list, but we remain committed to further boosting proficiency and growth for all student subgroups. Although there is still work ahead, we’re encouraged by the strides we’ve made."