Catawba County Schools

NC Students Make Gains in 2022-23, Continuing Recovery from COVID Losses
Catawba County Schools Shows Increases in Growth, Proficiency

NEWTON, September 5, 2023 --State test results from the 2022-23 school year presented to the State Board of Education today show that North Carolina students continued to recover ground lost to the COVID pandemic, with gains across virtually all grades, subjects, and student subgroups.

Statewide, schools also showed progress on accountability measures, with more than seven of every 10 achieving or exceeding their goals for academic growth, while the proportion of schools that did not meet growth expectations was just one percentage point higher than in the most recent pre-pandemic year of 2018-19. More than one in four of the state’s 2,598 public schools earned a School Performance Grade of an A or B, with nearly two out of every three receiving a C or better.

Because of disruptions in teaching and learning caused by the pandemic, the accountability report for the 2022-23 school year is only the second since 2018-19 to feature all elements of the state’s accountability framework, including the calculation of growth designations and A-F School Performance Grades.

While school closures and remote learning resulted in unprecedented declines in end-of-grade and end-of-course test scores for the 2020-21 school year, results for the 2022-23 year show strong gains, particularly in math, with pandemic losses in some grades cut by more than two thirds. Reading scores also improved in all grades, with losses from 2020-21 cut by half or more in some grades. 

The student achievement data for the 2022-23 school year are based on analysis of all end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) tests, which are aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in English Language Arts (Reading) and Mathematics and the Essential Standards in Science for all public schools in North Carolina. The data provide the percentage of students who scored at Level 3 and above (grade level proficiency), at Level 4 and above (college and career readiness), and at each academic achievement level. 

 Catawba County School’s performance data exceeds the statewide average, with 24 of 28 schools meeting performance standards with a grade of C or above and 89% of our schools achieving or exceeding goals for academic growth. The district reports that 16 schools achieved expected growth, while eight schools, Bandys High School, Blackburn Elementary, Clyde Campbell Elementary, Challenger Early College, Jacobs Fork Middle School, Maiden Elementary, Oxford Elementary, and Webb A. Murray, exceeded growth. 

The Catawba County Schools Cohort Graduation Rate also indicated a slight rebound at 86.7% for 2022-23. The 2021-22 cohort rate was 86.2%. 

When asked about the district’s performance data, Superintendent Matt Stover notes, “I am extremely proud of our staff and students. Last year was another great school year. Test scores are only one of those measures, and although they look great to the community, the most important part of those scores is the children behind them. Every one of those percentages includes specific numbers for each student in our district, with stories full of personal and academic growth throughout their school year that only their teachers and parents can share. This year, amid excellent test scores, I want our community to think more about each child and their individual stories. Those stories were created by our incredible staff at each of our schools and in our central office. I also want to thank our parents for their support and their crucial role in their child’s education. I continue to be thankful for being part of an incredible team that makes a huge difference each year with our students in Catawba County Schools!”