WCPSS students make largest academic gains in more than a decade

Academic performance improved significantly across the Wake County Public School System in 2025-26, as the district recorded a 3.8 percentage-point increase in overall academic proficiency - the largest single-year gain in more than a decade outside of the pandemic-disrupted testing years.

The proficiency rate across all grades and tested subjects increased from 64.4% in 2025 to 68.2% in 2026. That is three percentage points higher than our pre-pandemic baseline and the highest proficiency rate since 2012.

Proficiency is defined as scoring 3 or higher on state tests. The proficiency rate is the percentage of all test takers who scored 3 or higher on state tests.

Statewide, the proficiency rate was 59.2%.

More WCPSS schools also met or exceeded expected growth compared to last year.

And the district’s four-year graduation rate rose to 91.3%, above the state average of 88.8%.

In addition, 60% of WCPSS schools earned an A or B School Performance Grade - the highest percentage since the state began issuing letter grades - and no WCPSS school received an F.

Statewide, just 36% of schools earned an A or B.

“These results show exceptional progress across our district and, most importantly, for our students,” says Superintendent Robert P. Taylor. “We saw strong gains in reading, math, and science, improvement among many student groups, a higher graduation rate, and fewer schools identified as low-performing. 

“That progress reflects the hard work happening every day in our classrooms and schools. We also know there is more work ahead, particularly in closing gaps and ensuring every student has access to the instruction and support they need to succeed. Our focus now is on building on this progress and continuing to raise expectations and outcomes for every student.”

Academic proficiency

Overall proficiency across all grades and tested subjects increased 3.8 percentage points to 68.2%, three percentage points higher than our pre-pandemic baseline. Elementary and middle school proficiency increased by 2.7 points in math, 3.8 points in reading and 5.6 points in science, while high school students also made substantial gains.

Proficiency is defined as scoring 3 or higher on state tests. The proficiency rate is the percentage of all test takers who scored 3 or higher on state tests.

Highlights include:

• Biology up 8 percentage points
• Grade 3 Reading up 7.9 points
• Grade 8 Science up 6.8 points
• English II up 5 points
• High school Math 1 up 4 points
• Significant overall proficiency gains among Economically Disadvantaged students (+5.4), Hispanic/Latino students (+5.3) and Black/African-American students (+5.2)

Schools with largest gains in academic proficiency rate

• Southeast Raleigh Magnet High up 17.4 percentage points to 44.8%
• Fuquay-Varina High up 14.1 points to 73.5%
• Pleasant Grove Elementary up 13.9 points to 74.8%
• River Bend Middle up 13.4 points to 45.1%
• Knightdale Elementary up 13.1 points to 55%

Growth

Student academic growth also improved. 79.4% of our schools met or exceeded expected growth, compared with 73.5% in 2025. West Cary Middle, Leesville Road Middle, and River Bend Middle recorded the district’s three highest overall growth indexes.

Graduation rates

The four-year graduation rate for WCPSS increased to 91.3% for the Class of 2026, up 0.6 percentage points from 2025. Of the 13,763 students in the cohort, 12,571 graduated within four years. The district’s five-year graduation rate was 91.9%.

Four-year graduation rates increased for most student groups. The largest gains included:

• English Learners – up 7.8 percentage points
• Native American/American Indian students – up 3.5 points
• Economically Disadvantaged students – up 2.0 points
• Hispanic/Latino students – up 1.8 points
• Multiracial students – up 1.4 points
• Students with Disabilities – up 1 point

All of our early college high schools had four-year graduation rates of 100%:

• North Wake College and Career Academy
• Vernon Malone College and Career Academy
• Wake Early College of Health and Sciences
• Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies
• Wake STEM Early College
• Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy
• Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy

Crossroads FLEX also had a 100% graduation rate.

And several high schools continued to post graduation rates above 95%, including Apex Friendship, Apex, Green Hope, Green Level, Holly Springs, Panther Creek and Willow Spring, along with several district academies and early colleges.

School Performance Grades

WCPSS recorded its strongest School Performance Grade results since the state began assigning letter grades in 2013-14. 118 schools, or 60%, received an A or B, the highest number and percentage in district history under the current system. The number of schools receiving an A increased by 10 - a 43% increase from 2025 - while the percentage receiving a C, D or F declined.

No WCPSS school received an F. 

The number of schools designated by the state as low-performing also declined significantly, from 30 schools in 2025 to 17 in 2026. Those 17 schools represent 8.7% of WCPSS schools, and this is the district’s lowest number of schools designated as low-performing since 2016.

WCPSS produces detailed school progress reports each year that provide additional information beyond a single letter grade. The 2025-26 reports are now available on the district website.