North Carolina Releases Annual School Test Scores

There's been some improvement in North Carolina school test scores this year. But the state's virtual charter schools are not performing well.

The latest results for the 2018-19 school year were released on Wednesday. They show a slight increase in the number of schools meeting or exceeding academic growth targets and receiving A or B school performance grades.

The high school graduation rate held steady at 86 percent.

And roughly 75 percent of public schools met or exceeded expectations for progress on state exams.

But The Charlotte Observer reports that the state's two virtual charter schools received D performance grades, with students failing to meet academic growth targets. And a Robeson County school in the newly formed Innovative School District program received an F grade, and showed a drop in the percentage of students passing state exams.

There has been controversy surrounding the program, which allows the state to take over low-performing schools and turn them over to charter school management companies.