In a recent government meeting, officials presented an encouraging update on school performance grades in Nash County, highlighting significant improvements over the past three years. The official school performance grades, which were released just a day prior, revealed that the number of schools identified as low performing has drastically decreased, with only four schools receiving a D or F grade and failing to meet growth expectations.

The grading formula, which weighs 80% on performance based primarily on End-of-Grade (EOG) test scores and 20% on student growth, has shown positive trends. This year, 12 schools exceeded growth expectations, marking the highest number since the grading system's inception in 2015. Additionally, 17 schools achieved a grade of C or higher, the most in the district's history.

The district's ranking has also improved significantly. In the 2018-2019 school year, Nash County ranked 108 out of 115 districts in North Carolina for low-performing schools. This year, the district has moved up to 33rd place, reflecting a consistent decrease in low-performing schools over the years. Only six districts statewide have managed to reduce their number of low-performing schools annually since 2018-2019.

The meeting also highlighted that 48% of Nash County schools have shown improvement in their performance scores over the past two years, with several schools achieving notable growth in specific subjects. For instance, Southern Nash Middle School ranked fifth in the state for reading growth, while multiple schools excelled in both math and reading across various subgroups, including economically disadvantaged and English Language Learner students.

Overall, the meeting underscored the district's commitment to enhancing educational outcomes and the hard work of teachers and administrators in fostering student success. The positive trajectory in school performance grades signals a promising future for Nash County's educational landscape.