New report shows North Carolina students improving in math but falling behind in reading

(WWAY) — A new national report shows North Carolina students continue to make gains in math recovery following the pandemic, ranking among the top 10 states in the country, while reading performance continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels.

The findings come from the 2026 Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaboration between researchers at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Dartmouth College examining academic recovery trends across the country.

According to the report, North Carolina ranks ninth out of 38 states in math recovery between 2022 and 2025 and 22nd out of 35 states in reading recovery.

Researchers found the average North Carolina student is performing about .29 grade equivalents above 2022 levels in math but still remains about .41 grade equivalents below 2019 levels.

Reading scores showed continued declines statewide. The report found the average student is performing about .15 grade equivalents below 2022 reading levels and roughly .69 grade equivalents below pre-pandemic performance in 2019.

Several North Carolina school districts were highlighted as “Districts on the Rise” for outperforming similar districts across the state.

The report identified Beaufort, Stanly, and Wayne counties as districts showing strong progress in both math and reading.

Other districts stood out in specific subjects. New Hanover and Person counties were recognized for math performance, while Currituck, Moore, and Onslow counties were highlighted for gains in reading.

Researchers also noted improvements in chronic absenteeism, though attendance issues remain a concern.

The statewide chronic absenteeism rate dropped from more than 32% in 2022 to about 25% in 2025. However, that figure remains nearly 10 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels.

The report also examined the impact of federal pandemic relief funding. North Carolina schools received about $5.6 billion in federal K-12 pandemic aid, averaging roughly $3,700 per student.

Researchers said many high-poverty districts saw academic gains tied to that federal support, while some middle-poverty districts received less assistance and continue struggling to recover academically.

“The pandemic was the mudslide that followed seven years of erosion in student achievement,” said Professor Tom Kane, faculty director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. “The ‘learning recession’ started a decade ago, after policymakers switched off the early warning system of test-based accountability and social media took over children’s lives.”

Kane said the report also highlights school districts finding successful ways to improve student learning and academic recovery.