CHCCS reports record-high graduation rate in 2022-23 NCDPI school performance data

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ graduation rate hit a record high of 94.8 percent in the 2022-23 school year, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction's 2022-23 school performance data, which was released on Sept. 6.

This is an increase from the previous year’s graduation rate of 94.5 percent and is higher than this year's state average of 86 percent.

Superintendent Nyah Hamlett said in a press release the high graduation rate is a strong indicator that students are graduating CHCCS on time with the skills they need for success in college, the military or the workforce.

The district also reported a 71.1 percent passing rate on all state exams, the highest in the Triangle area, and two-thirds of schools in the district received an A or B school performance grade. Both of these statistics are also higher than the state averages.

Andy Jenks, the chief communications officer for CHCCS, said the entire school system contributed to the record-high graduation statistic for the district. 

“Getting to that point represents the hard work of everyone who has their fingerprints on the school system,” Jenks said. “That includes our students and our families as well as our staff in providing the academic and social-emotional support to have our students be prepared for life after graduation from one student to the next.”

The annual school performance report for CHCCS also says that 59 percent of K-12 students showed proficiency on their end-of-year assessments, a one point increase from the 2021-22 school year. While this figure is higher than the state’s average of 36 percent, it is still below the pre-pandemic scores reported for CHCCS.

Ethan Hutt, a Gary Stuck Faculty Scholar in Education and associate professor at the UNC School of Education, said that not matching pre-pandemic scores is a nationwide issue.

While parents may be concerned about certain statistics that indicate student shortcomings, he said they should pay most attention to their student’s personal experience with education.

“The problem is not the standard and current level of achievement,” Hutt said. “What is much more important for parents to be thinking about is the level of engagement of their child in school.” 

Andrea Tanner, president of the CHCCS PTA, said in an email statement that she had been impressed with the renewed focus on social-emotional learning in the classroom in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I think supporting students' mental health should be and is a priority, in order to ensure that they are ready to learn and thrive in the classroom,” Tanner's email said.

Jenks said CHCCS believes proactive family engagement is important for moving forward and continuing student success.

“We're building relationships and building positive connections throughout the year on both the school and district level,” he said. “So that all of our moms, dads, parents, and guardians know that there are trusted adults at school who are interested in ensuring that their student has all the support that they need.”

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