Rowan-Salisbury School System Shares 2024-2025 School Report Card Grades
The Rowan-Salisbury School System (RSS) announces that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) released official statewide testing and performance data on September 3, 2025. As part of this release, the district has received the 2024-2025 School Performance Grades (SPGs) for all schools.
“We are encouraged by the progress we see in many of our schools and are committed to continuing the work of raising student achievement across our system. These school performance grades give one snapshot of where our schools stand when measured against state benchmarks,” said RSS Superintendent Dr. Kelly Withers. “Although they provide important information, they must also be viewed in the context of student growth, which we believe to be the most meaningful measure of school success over time.”
Performance Notes:
Of the 19 tested areas from elementary to high school, RSS saw overall growth in all but five areas.
In particular, high school Math 3 scores averaged an 11.8 percent growth, and English 2 average scores rose by 2.4 percent.
At the elementary level, Reading 4 scores rose by an average of 6.3 percent, Reading 5 rose by an average of 3.5 percent, while Math 3 and 5 rose by an average of 3.2 and 3.3 percent, respectively.
Middle school scores rose across the board in reading, with the 6th-grade reading improving by 3.1 percent, 7th-grade reading improving by 8 percent, and 8th-grade reading improving by 2.7 percent. For middle school math, 6th-grade math rose 3 percent, 7th-grade math rose 9.4 percent, and Overall 8th-grade Math rose .6 percent.
Individual RSS schools also achieved significant growth successes. North Rowan Middle School earned a 32.3-point growth increase, moving from a 65.7% (Not Meets) to a 97.9% (Exceeds) growth rate, which raised their growth index by 11.6 points.
Jesse C. Carson High School moved to a B grade for the first time post-COVID, achieved through an 11.6% point increase in growth, from 83.3% (Meets) to 94.9% (Exceeds), raising their growth index by 5.62 points.
Also exceeding growth this year, Millbridge Elementary School and Mt. Ulla Elementary School both earned B grades for the first time in their schools’ history.
Key Highlights from 2024-2025 Results:
- Eleven Schools Improved Their Letter Grade: Millbridge (MBES), Mt. Ulla (MUES), West Rowan Elementary (WRES), Corriher-Lipe Middle (CLMS), Erwin Middle (EMS), North Rowan Middle (NRMS), West Rowan Middle (WRMS), Jesse C. Carson High (JCHS), Rowan County Early College (RCEC), Salisbury High (SHS), and South Rowan High (SRHS). One School Dropped a Letter Grade: China Grove Elementary (CGES).
- Five Schools Improved in Growth Status: Morgan Elementary (MES), NRMS, JCHS, SHS, and Henderson Independent (HIHS). Seven Schools Declined in Growth Status: Bostian (BES), CGES, Hanford-Dole Elementary (HDES), Granite Quarry (GQES), Isenberg (IES), Landis (LES), and Summit K-8 Virtual Academy.
- One School Removed from the Low-Performing List: Shive Elementary (ESES), after steady progress over the past several years.
- Rowan County Early College continued to Exceed Growth, while moving its school grade to an A.
- SHS and SRHS both moved to a C for the first time post-COVID, with SHS Exceeding Growth. Morgan Elementary (MES) missed moving up to a “C” grade by just one point.
RSS Focus on Growth and Achievement:
The formula currently used by North Carolina to calculate SPGs assigns 80% weight to proficiency (student achievement) and 20% to growth. RSS leaders and many across the state continue to advocate for a more balanced model, since year-over-year growth better illustrates the progress schools are making with students, regardless of a student’s starting point.
“Our commitment remains centered on student growth and preparing every child for success—academically and beyond. It is exciting that many of our schools not only improved their grades but also demonstrated strong movement in growth, reflecting the hard work of our students and staff,” Withers said. “At the same time, we know there is more to do, and we have already begun strategically seeking areas of support for our schools to ensure consistent, upward progress.”
