Lake Norman Charter told its board that the school earned a performance score of 88 for the 2023-24 reporting year and "exceeded" growth on the state report card, officials said, while also identifying subject areas that need additional support.

"Based on that, you'll see the different levels of not met, met and exceeded," said Dr. Graham during a high-level presentation of the school report card. She told the board that the states performance grade combines an 80% achievement component and a 20% growth component and that the school's overall performance improved by one point from the prior year.

Dr. Graham said the school recorded gains in math and reading overall performance but also saw declines in some high-school end-of-course (EOC) measures, including biology, and noted the state adopted new science standards this year that change instruction to be more hands-on.

Board members asked specific questions about math 1 and how scores are counted when students take high-school math in middle school. Dr. Graham and other board members explained that state reporting treats math 1 results from high-school students differently: math 1 taken by ninth graders counts as the high-school result, while math tests for grades 3-8 reflect those grade-level exams; accelerated middle-school students who take high-school courses are accounted for in cohort metrics that can make year-to-year comparisons nuanced.

The board discussed teacher recruitment and retention for math, with Dr. Graham noting active recruitment partnerships with UNC Charlotte and use of preservice teacher programs to attract candidates. She said the school has increased collaborative planning time, data talks, screening three times a year, built intervention/enrichment blocks into schedules and expanded supports funded initially with COVID funds and continued through Title II.

"We have data talks monthly at the middle school," Dr. Graham said, outlining the school's response: more frequent data review, intervention and enrichment blocks, literacy intervention at elementary and ACT/SAT prep through Naviance.

Board members and staff also compared Lake Norman Charters results to local charter contemporaries and to district and state averages; presenters said the school remains among the higher-performing local schools despite some small year-to-year fluctuations.

The presentation was informational; board members asked questions and the school indicated steps it has begun to address weak spots.