For the third straight year, Cabarrus County Schools (CCS) has increased its overall proficiency rate according to state testing results released by the North Carolina State Board of Education on Wednesday.    

The grade level proficiency (GLP) rate in CCS rose to 61.6% , ranking CCS 15th among North Carolina’s 115 school districts and 3rd among the 12 largest school districts across the state. Cabarrus County Schools ranks ninth statewide in College-Career Readiness (CCR).    

“We are encouraged by the recent release of state test scores, which reflect the continued growth and progress of our students in Cabarrus County Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki. “These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teachers, staff, Board of Education, administrators, and district leaders who are committed to providing a high-quality education for every student.   

“While we celebrate these gains, we remain focused on areas within our district that need continuous improvement and will use this data to guide our efforts in ensuring that all students reach their full academic potential. As a district we are committed to continuous improvement, and our staff members continue to make gains with every student, every day."   

CCS schools receiving either an "A" or "B" rating increased from 15 to 17 schools in 2023-24.  This amounts to 41%, exceeding the state proportion of 27.8% receiving a grade of "A" or "B".   

During the 2023-24 school year, 80.4% of CCS schools either met or exceeded expected growth.  This exceeds the state average of 72.5% of schools meeting or exceeding expected growth.  

For the first time since 2017, all CCS elementary schools either met or exceeded growth.  

“Thanks to our schools and their dedicated staff and teachers for their incredible hard work and commitment over the past year,” said CCS Chief Academic Officer Sarah Reeves. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and are truly appreciated.  

“As we review the state data from the 2023-2024 school year, it's important to recognize and celebrate the significant growth and achievements within our schools, specifically that in which 100% of our elementary schools met or exceeded growth.   While there are key areas that require our focused attention, it’s equally crucial that we acknowledge and build on our successes. This year, we will maintain our laser-like focus on Alignment and Engagement. These areas will be central to our efforts in refining instructional practices, starting with our professional learning communities, and ensuring that every student can succeed. We are committed to leveraging the best instructional practices to promote continuous improvement. Our goal is to create a model of excellence that exceeds national standards to make Cabarrus County Schools the best in the nation.”  

CCS graduation rate increased for the third consecutive year, increasing from 88.9% in 2022-23 to 90.6% in 2023-24.   

Cabarrus County Schools continues to emphasize career development, advanced course placement, and acceleration opportunities for students to meet their unique learning goals.  

This year’s data reveals:    

⦁ 8 of 41 schools (19.5%) received an "A" rating, far exceeding the state proportion where 7.5% received an "A" rating.  

⦁ The percentage of CCS schools receiving either an "A" or "B" rating increased from 15 to 17 schools.  This amounts to 41% of CCS schools receiving an "A" or "B" rating, exceeding the state proportion of 27.8% receiving a grade of "A" or "B".  

⦁80.4% of CCS schools either met or exceeded expected growth.  This exceeds the state average of 72.5% percent of schools meeting or exceeding expected growth.  

⦁ CCS graduation rate increased for the third consecutive year, increasing from 88.9% in 2022-23 to 90.6% in 2023-24.    

⦁ Cabarrus County Schools’ 61.6 percent proficiency rate is the highest value since the 2018-19 school year.  The proficiency across the state of NC this year was 54.2percent.  

⦁Cabarrus County Schools ranks 3rd among the 12 largest school districts in North Carolina in overall proficiency.