Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) has announced its performance results for the 2024-2025 academic year, reporting a continued upward trend in student achievement and academic growth. According to data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, JCPS is now ranked 30th out of 115 public school units in the state, an improvement from previous years.
Superintendent Dr. David Pearce attributed these gains to the efforts of students, staff, and families. “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.”
JCPS’s rank has improved significantly over recent years, having been 80th in 2018 and rising steadily since then. This progress is largely due to improvements in reading and math scores across most grade levels. The district’s proficiency score increased by 0.8 percentage points to 57.2%, closely tracking with statewide trends.
The number of JCPS schools earning an A, B, or C on their performance grades rose from 89% to 93%, surpassing the statewide average of 69%. Additionally, three-quarters of JCPS schools met or exceeded growth expectations compared to 71% statewide. Currently, three JCPS schools are considered low performing; two made improvements during this school year.
Fifteen JCPS schools now rank in the top fifth statewide for performance; seven are among the top tenth for growth metrics. Graduation rates also climbed to 92.5%, above North Carolina’s average rate.
Several individual schools were highlighted for notable achievements:
– East Clayton Elementary School improved its performance composite by over seven points and moved up a letter grade.
– Innovation Academy at South Campus reached its highest-ever performance composite at nearly 84%.
– South Johnston High achieved substantial subject-level gains while meeting overall growth expectations.
– Selma Elementary reached its highest performance grade since accountability measures began.
– Meadow School advanced to a “B” rating with record proficiency.
– West View Elementary posted its highest growth index since 2014 after improving its school performance grade.
Despite challenges posed by new K-12 science standards implemented statewide—which affected comparisons across years—JCPS performed above or near state averages in most science assessments.
“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.”
Dr. Pearce emphasized that further work remains: “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,” he said.
JCPS aims to be ranked within North Carolina’s top fifth by 2029 as outlined in its strategic plan—a goal it continues working toward with new initiatives such as encouraging every school to pursue a five-point increase on their next performance grade.
“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.”
