Burke County scores fluctuate on NC school report cards

North Carolina school report cards are in, and Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) did not make A honor roll.

While no schools were failing, seven received Ds — two more than last year. The schools with a D-rating were Forest Hill Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Table Rock Middle, W A Young Elementary, and Walter R. Johnson Middle.

The report also shared some good news.

BCPS reached three-year highs overall in third- through eighth-grade math and reading. Graduation rates also rose from 88.2% in the 2023-24 school year to 89.2% in the 2024-25 school year. Across Burke County, 17 of 24 schools earned an A, B, or C rating, with East Burke Middle barely moving across the line to a C score.

BCPS Superintendent Mike Swan said, “We have much to celebrate, and we also recognize areas where we must continue to grow. … In the meantime, we will celebrate the gains we’ve made, be transparent about where we can improve, and stay focused on our commitment to student success.”

N.C. school report cards cover students’ academic performance and growth, analyzing math, science, and English language arts scores among other factors.

Although there are concerns over the clinical nature of test-based reviews, the numbers reflect the educational landscape across the state and — more specifically — the county.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Karen Auton considered the report card a snapshot as opposed to the bigger picture. Auton and BCPS Public Relations Officer Cheryl Shuffler shared that aspects such as test anxiety and student home life could play a larger, uncontrollable role in the results.

Each school’s grade is based 80% on proficiency and 20% on growth. This means that if a student begins attending a Burke County school in March, their proficiency at the end of the school year accounts for more of the score than their growth within the BCPS system, slightly skewing the outcome.

While exterior influences on academic performance can’t be controlled by the education system, Auton said, “What we can control is how much they grow that child.”

In response to the declining grades, BCPS identified focus schools — institutions with low scores and minimal growth. Their plan is to meet with principals at the schools on a monthly basis, including curriculum directors who can direct the schools’ focus toward opportunities for improvement.

Auton said, “Our biggest opportunity is to make sure growth is across schools.”

See the detailed report cards online at ncreports.ondemand.sas.com/src/.