Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) has released its 2024-2025 school year performance data, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), noting that the district has increased its ranking to 30th in the state of North Carolina. The results reflect notable gains across multiple areas, underscoring the district’s continued commitment to academic excellence and its focus on student achievement and academic growth.
JCPS saw favorable results in many areas, particularly math and reading, with evidence of significant growth in those areas for multiple schools. Superintendent Dr. David Pearce credited students, educators, and staff for their dedication and collaborative approach to education in making this success possible.
“The gains we have seen this year are the direct result of the hard work of our students, the tireless commitment of our staff, and the support of our community, especially our families,” stated Dr. Pearce. “Any success we experience is brought about by the collective efforts of the entire JCPS family.”
The district’s rank of 30 out of 115 public school units is a noteworthy accomplishment, as the district's academic achievement continues to show improvement in comparison, moving from 80th in 2018, 83rd in 2019, 41st in 2023, and 35th in 2024. The improvement from 2024 has been due primarily to reading and math gains.
JCPS continues to demonstrate gains in student proficiency, with scores increasing by 0.8 percentage points from 56.4% to 57.2%, which mirrors the statewide increase of 54.2% to 55.0%. Across the district, students showed positive gains in reading and math at nearly every grade level, with the exception of 8th-grade Math, Math 1, and 3rd-grade Reading. According to data, this is a common trend across the state.
The district also celebrates significant progress in school performance grades. The percentage of JCPS schools earning an A, B, or C increased from 89% to 93%, well above the statewide percentage of 69%. Additionally, 75% of JCPS schools met or exceeded growth expectations, compared to 71% across North Carolina. JCPS currently has three low performing schools, two of which improved their achievement component of the school performance grade during the 2024-2025 school year.
In addition, the district is excited to have 15 of its schools ranking in the top 20% statewide, with seven schools in the top 10% for growth. Graduation rates for JCPS schools continue to rise, with JCPS reaching 92.5%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 87.7%.
School Spotlights
As previously noted, many JCPS schools have shown tremendous growth. While each of these schools has achieved noteworthy success, the district has six schools that are highlighted below:
East Clayton Elementary School
East Clayton Elementary School earned recognition as the Most Improved Elementary School, improving its overall performance composite by 7.1 percentage points. The school saw significant gains in reading (+8.8) and math (+9.5). Its school performance grade improved by six points, moving from a “D” to a “C” and exiting low-performing status. East Clayton also exceeded growth expectations overall and in reading, marking an exceptional year of achievement.
Innovation Academy at South Campus
Innovation Academy was named Most Improved Middle School, improving its overall performance composite by 7.2 percentage points to an impressive 83.7%, the highest in the school’s history. Reading scores rose by 8.1 points, and math scores increased by 8.6 points. The school performance grade remained a “B,” but the score itself increased from 77 to 82, the highest score Innovation Academy has ever recorded.
South Johnston High
South Johnston High was recognized as the Most Improved High School, improving its overall performance composite by 5.2 percentage points. The school made significant subject-level gains: Math 1 (+5.5), Math 3 (+14.9), and Biology (+10). While maintaining its “C” designation, the school’s score improved from 63 to 66. South Johnston High also met growth expectations according to EVAAS (Education Value-Added Assessment System).
Selma Elementary
Selma Elementary achieved a milestone by improving its school performance grade from a “D” to a “C”, which is the highest grade (57) the school has received since the accountability model was introduced in 2014. The school exceeded growth expectations overall and in both reading and math. Proficiency gains were noted across reading (+2.6), math (+1.8), and science (+0.5). Overall performance is now up 8.2 percentage points compared to pre-COVID levels in 2019, highlighting Selma’s resilience and commitment to growth.
Meadow School
Meadow School advanced its school performance grade from a “C” to a “B,” achieving its highest-ever rating (70) under the accountability model. The school exceeded growth expectations overall and in math, while also recording proficiency gains in reading (+4.5) and math (+2.6). These improvements raised the school’s overall performance composite to 65.2%, the best in its history.
West View Elementary School
West View Elementary moved from a “C” to a “B” after raising its school performance grade by six points, from 66 to 72. The school exceeded growth expectations overall, recording its highest growth index since 2014, and surpassed growth targets in reading. Overall proficiency increased by 4.9 points, with notable subject gains in reading (+5.7) and math (+7.6).
Statewide Science Challenges
JCPS remains optimistic after receiving favorable results in many key areas, amid the challenges posed by recent updates to North Carolina’s K-12 science standards, changes that have proven difficult for districts across the state. While these statewide changes led to less than favorable results for most school systems, including JCPS, district leaders view these outcomes as a strong indicator that JCPS is well-positioned to continue building on its success, even in the face of evolving educational expectations.
Science assessments in grades 5 and 8, and high school Biology were redesigned to align with new state standards, making year-to-year comparisons unavailable. Even so, JCPS performance remains strong, with proficiency above the state average in 5th-grade science, merely 0.2 points below the state average in 8th-grade science, and 2.8 points below the state in Biology.
“In reviewing the data and the significant strides made in math and reading, we are confident that we have the systems, processes, resources, and personnel in place to support our schools for continued improvements in our overall performance,” said Kristy Stephenson, Assistant Superintendent of Accountability and School Performance. “We have identified opportunities for improvement and are eager to implement strategies to help achieve success in all areas, particularly Science, during the upcoming year.”
Moving Forward
Looking forward, the district is fully committed to its pursuit of excellence and is determined to be a top-performing district in the years ahead. “While we recognize the position we are currently in, we know that our work is far from finished. Johnston County Public Schools is committed to moving forward, working collaboratively, and ensuring that our district is prepared to achieve even greater success,” Dr. Pearce added. “Our leadership, staff, and students are united in their readiness to meet the challenges ahead and continue advancing student achievement and growth.”
Johnston County Public Schools’ goal, as noted in the district’s strategic plan, is to be ranked in the top 20% of all 115 North Carolina school districts by the end of the 2029 school year. The current ranking is a tremendous stride in the right direction and marks significant progress toward achieving this goal.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the district has accepted the challenge for each school to “Strive for Five”. With a 5-point performance grade increase throughout, JCPS will continue its trend towards being a top-performing district. This is an obtainable goal.
As JCPS continues to focus on its north star, which is student achievement and academic growth, the district affirms its dedication to ensuring that every child is provided with the opportunities, resources, and support needed to succeed both now and in the future. “ The sky is the limit for the students and staff of our district,” noted Superintendent Dr. Pearce. “As long as we keep students at the forefront of our minds and our north star in sight, I am confident that we have the student engagement and staff commitment in place to continue this growth.”
2024-25 Accountability Framework (Background Brief)
2024-25 JCPS Summative Data