New Hanover County Schools Continues Growth Trend

Sep 5 2024

New Hanover County Schools Continues Growth Trend

Schools from across New Hanover County experienced exceptional growth last year, according to test results presented today to the State Board of Education.

Sixteen schools exceeded the standards for academic growth, including Williston Middle School, which went from “not met” to “exceeding” growth for the first time in a decade.

In a measure of equitable outcomes for all students, the district has half as many “low-performing” schools as it did in 2021-22, going from 12 down to six. Most recently Snipes Academy and Williston Middle School came off the low-performing list for 2023-24. NHCS also decreased the number of schools rated “F,” and had an increase in the percentage of students who were proficient.

District-wide, 32 out of 40 schools exceeded or met growth.

“Exceeding growth means that the state set an expectation for student achievement for a school, but the school exceeded those expectations,” said Executive Director of Schools Jared Worthington, who supervises principals at many of the Title I schools in the district. “At the end of the day, this data only tells one part of the story of success for our kids. We are preparing our students to be ready to be a part of our world, contribute to our community, and be successful in the next stage of life.”

Student achievement for the 2022-23 school year is based on all end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) tests in reading, math, and science.

NHCS performed better than the state average in 12 out of 13 subjects and accountability measures.

Overall proficiency ticked up from 60% to 61%, a remarkable increase from 55.7% in 2021-22. Biology proficiency jumped from 55% to 62% in one year. High School English II scores jumped from 63% to 67% proficient in one year.

Among the “Big 12” districts in North Carolina, NHCS ranked:

Fourth in all EOG/EOC subjects
Fourth in Reading
Second in Biology
Third in Math grades 3-8
Third in High School English 2

The graduation rate is higher than the state average at almost 88%, up from 6.3 points since 2015.

“The work our teachers and students put into growing, and demonstrating that growth, is monumental, and today we’re celebrating each and every one of them,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Christopher Barnes. “But we also know that not all growth can be measured by standardized tests, and that school success is about so much more than strictly academics. So while we’re excited to see what we’ve accomplished, we know incredible things are happening in our schools that won’t show up on a scorecard.”

Schools that Outperformed Expectations
Among the many schools that experienced growth last year, here are examples of tremendous school success in 2023-24:

Snipes Academy raised their grade from an F to a D and exceeded growth. It was the first time they exceeded growth since the 2013-14 school year.

Forest Hills Elementary met growth expectations and raised their grade from an F to a D for the first time since 2018-19.

Myrtle Grove Middle School exceeded growth and is a B school for the first time since 2013-14.

Williston Middle School went from not meeting growth in 2022-23 to exceeding growth expectations last year. It was the first time they exceeded growth in a decade.

Highlights

16 schools exceeded growth, 16 schools met growth, and only 8 schools did not meet growth.
Two years ago Myrtle Grove Middle School was rated a “D.” Now it is a “B” school for the first time in 10 years. .
Williston Middle School moved from an “F” to “D” and is exceeding growth.
Bellamy Elementary is ranked among the top 10 elementary schools in North Carolina for growth, out of more than 2,500 schools statewide.
Snipes Academy came off the low-performing list for 2023-24.
Four schools increased a letter grade:
- SEA-Tech: B to A
- Myrtle Grove Middle School: C to B
- Pine Valley Elementary: C to B
- Forest Hills Elementary: F to D
Six schools increased their growth status

Not Met to Met: Forest Hills

Met to Exceeded: Eaton Elementary, Sunset Park, Snipes, Wrightsville Beach

Not Met to Exceeds: Williston Middle School

To view the full report on student achievement in New Hanover County Schools, click here.