New NC test scores make CMS proud, Superintendent Crystal Hill says. Here’s why
Superintendent Crystal Hill called for some celebration across many of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s schools after the state released student performance data for the 2022-23 school year.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction on Wednesday released state test score data and school performance grades, which are calculated from data that includes how much academic growth students made last school year. CMS showed improvement in the second post-pandemic year in reading and math scores and 58% of the district’s schools earned a school performance grade of an A, B, or C.
“We experienced an increase in the percent of students achieving grade level proficiency and college and career readiness in most grade levels across all student groups,” Hill said. “We are proud that we increased the number of schools with a school performance grade of A, B, C and decreased the number of schools with a school performance grade of an F.”
Slightly more than half of CMS students were proficient on state level exams for the 2022-23 academic year — 1.5% lower than the statewide rate — and 40 CMS schools improved their school letter grade. CMS’ proficiency rate of 52.1% is better than how the district performed during the 2021-22 school year.
While the total number of low-performing schools increased by nine, it included the state removing the designation from 16 CMS schools and adding 25 new ones. Low-performing schools have a performance grade of D or F and do not exceed growth.
Hill offered a different perspective on the state’s label.
“The label of ‘low performing school’ that some of our schools received is not an indication or reflection of the potential of our students or the ability of our teachers and administrators,” Hill said. “What it does signal is that we as a school system need to provide a comprehensive strategy of support and associated resources to the schools that need us the most going forward.”
Hill and district leaders Wednesday acknowledged other areas CMS needs to improve: the graduation rate declined by 0.7%, which they attributed to the year of remote learning and lack of testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hill also committed to “deliver the needed support and resources necessary” to ensure all students exceed growth.
Schools removed from low-performing list
The following CMS schools were removed from the state’s low performing list:
▪ Cotswold Elementary
▪ Military and Global Leadership
▪ Joseph W Grier Academy
▪ Rocky River High
▪ Montclaire Elementary
▪ Newell Elementary
▪ Performance Learning Center
▪ Pineville Elementary
▪ Piney Grove Elementary
▪ Sedgefield Middle
▪ Starmount Academy of Excellence
▪ Steele Creek Elementary
▪ Sterling Elementary
▪ West Charlotte High
▪ Winding Springs Elementary
▪ Winget Park Elementary schools.
Schools added to low-performing list
CMS saw the following 25 schools added to the low-performing list:
▪ Albemarle Road Elementary
▪ Alexander Graham Middle
▪ Berewick Elementary
▪ Berryhill School
▪ Bruns Avenue Elementary
▪ Croft Communty
▪ Devonshire Elementary
▪ Eastway Middle
▪ Elizabeth Traditional
▪ Governor’s Village STEM (lower)
▪ Governor’s Village STEM (upper)
▪ Greenway Park Elementary
▪ J.H. Gunn Elementary
▪ Lawrence Orr Elementary
▪ Mint Hill Elementary
▪ Northridge Middle
▪ South Pine Academy
▪ Stoney Creek Elementary
▪ Thomasboro Academy
▪ Tuckaseegee Elementary
▪ University Meadows Elementary
▪ Villa Heights Elementary
▪ Walter G. Byers
▪ Whitewater Middle
▪ Wilson STEM Academy schools.
