Johnston County reports modest gains on 2024–25 state assessments; science scores dip after new tests

Christy Stephenson, assistant superintendent for accountability and school performance, presented the district——s 2024–25 summative assessment results to the Johnston County Board of Education, saying the district recorded an overall 8% performance increase and remained above the state in combined reading and math except for some high-school measures. Stephenson told the board that 26 schools improved their overall composite and that 93% of district schools now earn a letter grade of A, B or C. She said two schools moved from D to C and two moved from C to B. The district——s ranking improved to 30th in the state, she said. On subject-level results, Stephenson said the district posted gains in elementary reading and math (from 59% to 61% proficient overall), gains in middle-school reading and math, and increases in English II and math III at the high-school level. She also said math I and biology proficiency decreased; biology and some science decreases were expected because North Carolina administered new science tests and norms were reestablished. Stephenson described retesting as one contributor to gains: the district retested roughly 30% of eligible EOG students, which she said added 4.4 percentage points to EOG proficiency, and retested about 20% of eligible EOC students, adding about 2 percentage points to EOC proficiency. She noted that the retest totals reported covered math and reading but not science because science was a new test and retesting was not available. On subgroup performance, Stephenson said most ethnic subgroups showed gains; limited English proficient (LEP) and students with disabilities (SWD) saw small declines she characterized as not large. She highlighted growth measures that placed 19 schools in the state——s exceeding-growth category, and noted several schools that have been in the top 10% for multiple years. Stephenson also reported non-accountability data: graduation rate at 92.5%, higher AP participation and exam counts than previous years, rising College and Career Promise (dual enrollment) participation, and stronger early-literacy outcomes compared with the prior year. On read-to-achieve, she said the district——s end-of-year proficiency before reading camp was 83.8% and rose to 85.9% after camp, with 192 third graders attending summer reading camp. Board members asked questions about test check-ins, AP exam fees and how eighth-grade math I scores are counted; Stephenson confirmed check-ins were mandated last year for fifth- and eighth-grade science and biology and said the district received funding so students would not need to pay the new AP exam fee. Board members requested additional breakdowns including IB student scores and AP score detail by 4s and 5s. Stephenson said staff will provide those breakdowns on request and noted that the district will share more detailed plans to support schools, especially those in the C and D range, through differentiated supports.