LAURINBURG, N.C. — Scotland County Schools is reporting continued academic improvement, with the district surpassing the statewide percentage of schools that met or exceeded expected growth during the 2025-2026 school year.
According to newly released accountability results, 87.5 percent of Scotland County schools receiving a growth designation met or exceeded expectations. Seven of the district’s nine eligible schools reached that benchmark, compared with 72.9 percent of schools statewide.
The district also completed a second consecutive year without any school receiving an F performance grade. Three Scotland County schools received an F during the 2022-2023 school year.
Graduation Rate Climbs Above State Average
Scotland County Schools’ four-year graduation rate increased from 90.7 percent to 91.2 percent. That places the district 2.4 percentage points above North Carolina’s record statewide rate of 88.8 percent.
Over the past four years, the district’s graduation rate has increased by 4.6 percentage points. District officials also reported improvement in 32 of 34 tested areas since the 2022-2023 school year.
Laurel Hill Elementary recorded one of the district’s most significant gains. Its performance score increased from 47 to 56, moving the school from a D grade to a C. Laurel Hill also moved from not meeting expected growth last year to meeting the state benchmark this year.
Scotland High School exceeded expected growth for a second consecutive year, while Scotland Early College High School exceeded growth for the fourth year in a row. South Johnson, Sycamore Lane, Wagram and Carver also met expected growth.
District Plans to Build on Momentum
Scotland County leaders credit the progress to the district’s RISA framework, which emphasizes relationships, instruction, safety and accountability. The district plans to continue that work during the current school year through an expanded effort called RISA 2.0.
School Performance Grades in North Carolina are calculated using student achievement and academic growth, with achievement accounting for 80 percent of a school’s grade and growth accounting for 20 percent. District leaders say both measures remain important as schools work to improve proficiency while recognizing the progress students make during the year.
Sources: Laurinburg Exchange and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
