Governor McCrory Praises Teachers for High Graduation Rate

Press Release

Governor Pat McCrory congratulated the state's teachers for helping achieve one of the highest high school graduation rates in North Carolina's history. For the 2014-15 school year, the high school graduation rate was 85.4 percent, a 17 point improvement from the 2005-06 academic year.

"The graduation rate is a critical education measure because it has real world consequences for every student," Governor McCrory said. "Without a high school diploma, it becomes incredibly difficult for a person to further their education or get a decent job. I am very grateful to the teachers of North Carolina for collaboratively making higher education and a career possible for the overwhelming majority of students in our state."

Governor McCrory has said he believes a highly qualified teacher in every North Carolina classroom is vital to student learning. He has committed to raise the base pay of all North Carolina teachers to $35,000 per year as part of a strategic pay plan that will invest nearly $1 billion dollars in higher teacher pay.

The governor also had praise for the 3 point percentage gain in fourth grade reading scores. A major element of the governor's education plan is increased reading comprehension at the end of third grade as well as the end of third grade social promotion.

The scores were part of the year end statewide testing of student performance in mathematics and reading. The governor also noted improvement in mathematics and science scores in the middle and elementary school level.

"There is a lot of data that needs to be studied. And while the gains in high school graduation are encouraging, we still have a lot of structural improvements and reform we need to achieve in order for our students to get the education they deserve to fulfill their potential," Governor McCrory said. "That improvement will not come during a single year. It will come with long-term planning, commitment and hard work."

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