ROBESON COUNTY — The Public Schools of Robeson County school district is making steady academic progress, with recently released state test results and data highlighting gains in Math 3, higher ACT scores, and multiple schools moving off the low-performing list.
Statewide, North Carolina students achieved a three-year high in most standardized tests at the end of the 2024–2025 academic year. Students scored higher in 12 of 15 math and reading assessments, while the state’s four-year graduation rate also increased. PSRC is proud to reflect that same upward trend locally, performing higher in 13 of the 15 math and reading assessments. Additionally, PSRC also saw strong gains in Math 3, ACT performance and its 4-year graduation rate.
Math 3 Proficiency Increase
One of the most notable areas of growth was in high school mathematics. Districtwide, students recorded major gains on End-of-Course (EOC) exams, with Math 3 proficiency increasing to 67.2%. This marks a remarkable 20-point jump from 47.1% in the previous year, reflecting the impact of focused instruction strategies.
ACT Benchmark Gains
PSRC also celebrated substantial gains on the ACT. The percentage of students meeting the benchmark score rose from 12% in 2023–2024 to 31.6% in 2024–2025. This represents a 19.6 percentage point increase, marking one of the district’s most encouraging areas of growth.
Graduation Rates
The school district also celebrates an increase in its graduation which rose to 85.6% from the previous year’s rate of 83.5%. This mirrors the statewide trend, as North Carolina’s overall graduation rate climbed to 87.7%.
Elementary Reading Performance
Reading performance reflected both areas of progress and areas for continued growth. Third-grade reading proficiency scores were reported at 32.5%, a slight decrease from 34.1% the year before. This decrease is slightly lower than the state’s decrease of two points. However, there was strong improvement at the district’s fourth-grade level, where proficiency rose from 33.6% to 39.2%. Across grades 3-8, scores also reflected marginal increases in proficiency, signaling steady progress.
English Language Learner Progress
English Language Learner proficiency also showed progress. According to data, EL Progress scores were 9.2 points higher than the previous year.
School Performance Grades
The 2024–2025 school year also brought encouraging news in school performance grade improvements. Six schools improved their overall letter grades, with three moving from an F to a D, two moving from a D to a C and one from an F to a C.
Additionally, 23 of the district’s 36 schools met or exceeded growth expectations, an increase from the previous year. The number of low-performing schools also declined significantly. Nineteen schools (52.7%) were identified as low-performing in 2024–2025, down from 26 schools (72.2%) the year before. In total, eight schools exited the low-performing list.
While PSRC narrowly missed completely exiting the state’s low-performing designation—by just one school and a margin of 0.08 points—the district sees this as a clear sign of forward momentum.
“Systems and structures are in place to support both students and staff. The curriculum is challenging our students to achieve, pushing them to embrace productive struggle, and the results show that our efforts are working,” said PSRC Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson.
“This is not a time for discouragement, but a time for reflection on how far we have come. Our leaders and educators should celebrate progress we have made and return to their work with renewed strength, and inspiration to push even further. At the center of it all are our students—the reason we do this work—and they deserve nothing less than our very best. Together, we will get there with a ‘one team, one goal’ approach to student success,” he added.
Looking Ahead
The district remains committed to improving instruction and ensuring that every student receives a sound, high-quality education. Guided by both district and state strategic plans, PSRC will continue to strengthen teaching and learning, close achievement gaps, and build on recent progress, according to Dr. Williamson.
“Every day in classrooms across Robeson County, our educators and staff show up as true champions for students and education. They work tirelessly—not just to teach lessons, but to change lives and futures through education,” Dr. Williamson said. “But this work is not done by schools alone. Partnerships with families are essential, because when schools and families walk together, students thrive. Together—with our educators, our families, and our community—we will keep moving forward.”