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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Harnett County Schools Announces School Performance Grades for 2023-2024  

September 4, 2024

LILLINGTON, NC –  The State Department of Public Instruction released school test results and school performance grades on September 4, 2024. Dr. Aaron Fleming, Superintendent of Harnett County Schools, states test scores for Harnett County Schools again appear to be in line with state trends and continue to move in a positive trend in most areas. The state reported for the second year in a row, North Carolina students performed well in math, seeing an increase in both college and career readiness (CCR) and grade level proficiency (GLP) in all grades from third to eighth grade and this was the case for Harnett County Schools. Across the state, the increase in students achieving grade level proficiency in math was 2.1 percentage points from the 2022-2023 school year, while in Harnett County, the increase was 3.0 percentage points from the 2022-2023 school year. School performance grades also continue to show a steady increase in the number of schools earning an A, B, or C. The state reported the number of schools earning a D or F declined nearly two percentage points, while in Harnett County, the number of schools earning a D or F declined nearly 10.4 percentage points. This includes moving from 7 schools to 10 schools with a C and Harnett County's first A, the Harnett County Early College. Buies Creek Elementary, Harnett Central High School, Johnsonville Elementary, and Overhills Elementary moved from a D to a C. Two schools received an F, Angier Elementary and Coats-Erwin Middle. The number of schools exceeding or meeting growth increased from 56% in 2022-2-23 to 61.5% in 2023-2024. Under the current school performance model, schools that receive a D or F performance grade and do not exceed growth are identified as low-performing.

Across the state, English Language Learners (EL) saw significant gains in the percentage of students meeting progress targets. This was also the trend for Harnett County Schools. Total EL progress increased by 2.5 percentage points in 2023-2024, while the percentage of EL students meeting annual progress also increased by 2.7 percentage points in 2023-2024. The increase in meeting annual progress is higher than the statewide average of nearly two percentage points.

To meet participation requirements, schools must assess at least 95% of eligible students. Participation requirements are reported for the following student groups: All Students, American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Two or More Races, White, Economically Disadvantaged, English Learners, and Students with Disabilities.

Graduation rate for the state's four-year cohort graduation rate was 86.9, while Harnett County's four-year graduation rate was 85.9. Harnett County's 5-year cohort graduation rate is 88.3%.

In Harnett County, students in grades 3-8 continue to make steady gains in math and reading performance. Students achieving grade-level proficiency in reading increased in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6. Math grade-level proficiency increased in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8. Fifth and sixth grade saw the most significant increase, with a 4.4 and 2.0 percentage point increase in reading and a 6.0 and 9.5 percentage point increase in math. Fifth-grade science proficiency grew from 50.5 to 52.3.

High schools in Harnett County showed increased performance in Math I and English II. The four high schools earned a C, while Harnett County Early College earned an A. Harnett County Early College and Triton High School met growth.

Overall, two schools exceeded growth, 14 schools met growth and ten schools did not meet growth. Last year 56% of the schools met or exceeded growth, while this year, 61.5% of the schools met or exceeded growth. Schools exceeding growth were Dunn Middle School and Western Harnett Middle School. Dunn Middle School had the highest growth at 5.82. Benhaven Elementary, Buies Creek Elementary, Coats Elementary, Erwin Elementary, Harnett County Early College, Harnett Virtual Academy, Highland Middle, Johnsonville Elementary, LaFayette Elementary, Northwest Harnett Elementary, Overhills Elementary, Overhills Middle, South Harnett Elementary and Triton High School all met growth. Included in these improved scores were Harnett County Early College, Johnsonville Elementary, and Overhills Elementary, with double-digit improvement in their school performance scores.

The student achievement data for the 2023-2024 school year is based on analysis of all end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) tests. 

In the state's release, Superintendent Catherine Truitt stated, "This year's data shows us that we're headed in the right direction in most areas, but that we must remain committed to advocation for additional support for teachers. Throughout my tenure as state superintendent, I have advocated for a new way of calculating school performance grades. The current model puts far too much emphasis on a single day's test scores and doesn't take into account the many other factors, such as durable skills, post-secondary outcomes, and school climate that impact both school quality and student success."

Dr. Fleming stated, "I continue to be encouraged to see that both our student growth and proficiency continue to trend upwards. This year, we have more schools that improved and fewer that are designated as "low performing.” We continue to move in the right direction, and I know this positive news is a direct result of quality instruction in our classrooms that our teachers and staff have worked hard to accomplish. We will continue to keep our focus on student achievement as we begin the 2024-2025 school year.”

  School

School Performance Grade 2023-2024

Growth Status 

2023-2024

Angier Elementary

F

Not Met

Benhaven Elementary

C

Met

Boone Trail Elementary

D

Not Met

Buies Creek Elementary

C

Met

Coats Elementary

D

Met

Coats Erwin Middle

F

Not Met

Dunn Elementary

D

Not Met

Dunn Middle

D

Exceeded

Erwin Elementary

D

Met

Harnett Central High

C

Not Met

Harnett Central Middle

D

Not Met

Harnett County Early College

A

Met

Harnett Virtual Academy

D

Met

Highland Elementary

D

Not Met

Highland Middle

D

Met

Johnsonville Elementary

C

Met

LaFayette Elementary

D

Met

Lillington-Shawtown Elementary

D

Not Met

Northwest Elementary

C

Met

Overhills Elementary

C

Met

Overhills Middle

D

Met

Overhills High

C

Not Met

South Harnett Elementary

D

Met

Triton High

C

Met

Western Harnett High

C

Not Met

Western Harnett Middle

C

Exceeded

For more information about Harnett County Schools' results, please visit the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction website:  https://bit.ly/3Ze2tMG

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