Among the highlights of Wednesday’s data release:

• Our cohort graduation rate is the highest it has ever been at 87%.

• WS/FCS has 6 fewer low performing schools.  The number fell from 35 in 2022 to 29 in 2023.

• 72% of schools met or exceeded growth.  36% exceeded growth.  36% met growth.  28% did not meet growth.

• There are seven fewer D and F rated schools.  Fs went from 22 to 16 and Ds went from 23 to 22. 

• The graduation rate gap between black and white students has decreased to 1%.

Cohort Graduation Rate Reaches New High

The WS/FCS cohort graduation rate hit a record high of 87% in for the 2022-23 school year.  More importantly, the gap between black, Hispanic, and white students is closing.  The graduation rate among white students dropped slightly. But there were significant gains in the graduation rates of black and Hispanic students.  The rate among black students jumped nearly 5% over 2022.

Eight elementary schools were removed from the low performing list according to the 2022-23 data. This occurred because they either exceeded expected growth or their school performance grade moved from a D to a C.

“Seeing the hard work of our teachers and administrators pay off in improved results for students is particularly encouraging,” said Andrew Kraft, WS/FCS Chief Accountability Officer.  “Ashley’s achievement is a great example of what we want to see across the district.”

Other highlights include Carver and East Forsyth High Schools coming off the underperforming list.  Carver was considered low performing in 2022 but exceeded growth in 2023. East Forsyth went from a D to a C.

Clemmons Middle School is another great takeaway from this year’s report,” said Kraft.  “For three years in a row, they have exceeded expected growth.”

The 2-year post-pandemic School Performance Grade Report showed promising trends for WS/FCS. The number of schools receiving D and F grades dropped while the number of schools with B and C grades increased.

“The improvements in school performance grades show the strides the district is making towards recovering from the learning loss that took place during the pandemic. While we are encouraged by these changes we know there is still more work to do,” said Kraft.

Also of note, of the 59 elementary and middle schools, 50 met or exceeded growth in reading. That represents 85% of the schools.  Of those same schools, 46 met or exceeded growth in math which is 78%.

WS/FCS has adopted the North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate and plans to use the competencies outlined in the portrait to achieve deeper learning for all students in every classroom, every day.  If our students are going to graduate with the durable skills/competencies needed to thrive in 21st century place of work which include critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, adaptability, empathy, learner’s mindset, and personal responsibility, they must be practicing these skills beginning in pre-kindergarten.   This means hands-on, active levels of engagement, where students are experiencing rigorous academic content while using the durable skills and mindsets to apply their learning to new situations.   WS/FCS is calling this Deeper Learning and will be engaged in a year-long process to clearly define what instructional excellence that leads to deeper learning looks and sounds like across all classrooms in the district.  Deeper Learning, coupled with a second year of implementation of the Code of Character, Conduct, and Support, which focuses on restorative and inclusionary practices, will both increase student sense of belonging and ownership and excitement for learning, all key ingredients to success.

“Our work around deeper learning is not a new initiative, but rather clear expectations for what teaching and learning should look like in every classroom in WS/FCS. Students cannot be passive recipients of knowledge and be ready for the 21st century workplace.  They must be actively engaged in learning, having daily experiences that ensure they are thinking critically, collaborating, problem solving, and communicating.  That is the only way they will have ownership and connectedness to their learning and be ready for post-secondary success and life,” said McManus.

“We have much to celebrate, but still so much work to do to ensure all students are proficient and reaching growth targets.  We will not rest until that happens.  Some is not good enough,” said McManus.

All district-wide data from the 2022-2023 release can be found at the NC DPI School Accountability and Reporting page. It also includes individual school achievement data.