GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 773
Short Title: School Performance Grade Changes. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Biggs, Cotham, Willis, and Rhyne (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Education - K-12, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules,
Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 7, 2025
*H773 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MODIFY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE METR ICS AND GRADES TO BETTER 2
REFLECT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Part 1B of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes reads as 5
rewritten: 6
"Part 1B. School Performance. 7
"§ 115C-83.15. School achievement, growth, performance scores, and grades. 8
(a) School Scores and Grades. – The State Board of Education shall award school 9
achievement, growth, and performance scores and an associated performance grade as required 10
by G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., and calculated as provided in this section. 11
(b) Calculation of the School Achievement Score. – In calculating the overall school 12
achievement score earned by schools, the State Board of Education shall total the sum of points 13
earned by a school as follows: 14
(1) For schools serving any students in kindergarten through eighth fifth grade, 15
the State Board shall assign points on the following measures available for 16
that school: 17
a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 18
on annual assessments for mathematics in grades three through eight. 19
five. For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for 20
mathematics shall include any mathematics course with an 21
end-of-course test. 22
b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 23
on annual assessments for for the reading assessment given in grades 24
three through eight.grade three. 25
c. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 26
on annual assessments for science in grades five and eight.grade five. 27
d. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 28
English language proficiency on annual assessments in grades three 29
through eight.five or scores at or above proficient on annual 30
assessments for English Language Arts in grades three through five. 31
For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for English 32
Language Arts shall include any English Language Arts course with 33
an end-of-course test. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 773-First Edition
(1a) For schools serving any students in sixth through eighth grade, the State Board 1
shall assign points on the following measures available for that school: 2
a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 3
on annual assessments for mathematics in grades six through eight. 4
For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for mathematics 5
shall include any mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 6
b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 7
on annual assessments for science in grades six through eight. 8
c. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 9
English language proficiency on annual assessments in grades five 10
through eight. 11
d. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 12
on annual assessments for English Language Arts in grades six 13
through eight. For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for 14
English Language Arts shall include any English Language Arts 15
course with an end-of-course test. 16
e. One point for each percent of students in grade eight who complete a 17
high school level course. 18
(2) For schools serving any students in ninth through twelfth grade, the State 19
Board shall assign points on the following measures available for that school: 20
a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 21
on either the Algebra I or Integrated Math I end-of-course test or, for 22
students who completed Algebra I or Integrated Math I before ninth 23
grade, another mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 24
b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 25
on the English II end-of-course test. 26
c. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 27
on the Biology end-of-course test. 28
d. One point for each percent of students who complete Algebra II or 29
Integrated Math III with a passing grade. 30
e. One point for each percent of students who either (i) achieve the 31
minimum score required for admission into a constituent institution of 32
The University of North Carolina on a nationally normed test of 33
college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical 34
Education courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels on a 35
nationally normed test of workplace readiness.earn a passing score on 36
an advanced course exam, (ii) earn a passing grade in a dual enrollment 37
course, (iii) earn at least five credits through Career and College 38
Promise or any dual enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services 39
Qualification Test score that falls within Category II or higher on the 40
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) earn an industry 41
credential. 42
f. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-142, s. 1, effective July 19, 2019, and 43
applicable to measures based on data from the 2018-2019 school year 44
and each school year thereafter. 45
g. One point for each percent of students who graduate within four years 46
of entering high school. 47
h. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 48
English language proficiency. 49
In calculating the overall school achievement score earned by schools, the State Board of 50
Education shall (i) use a composite approach to weigh the achievement elements based on the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 773-First Edition Page 3
number of students measured by any given achievement element give equal weight to each 1
achievement element listed in each subdivision of this subsection and (ii) proportionally adjust 2
the scale to account for the absence of a school achievement element for award of scores to a 3
school that does not have a measure of one of the school achievement elements annually assessed 4
for the grades taught at that school. The overall school achievement score shall be translated to a 5
100-point scale and used for school reporting purposes as provided in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 6
115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 7
(c) Calculation of the School Growth Score. – Using the Education Value-Added 8
Assessment System (EVAAS), the State Board shall calculate the overall growth score earned 9
by schools. In calculating the total growth score earned by schools, the State Board of Education 10
shall weight student growth for schools serving students in grades one through five on the 11
achievement measures as provided in calculated under sub-subdivisions a. and d. of subdivision 12
(1) of subsection (b) of this section that have available growth values; provided that, section, for 13
schools serving students in grades six through eight on the achievement measures calculated 14
under sub-subdivisions a. and c. of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, and for 15
schools serving students in grades nine through 12, the growth score shall only include growth 16
values for 12 on the achievement measures calculated under sub-subdivisions a. and b. of 17
subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The growth score shall also include (i) the 18
percentage of students in the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) in English Language Arts, as 19
identified by prior year performance on an annual assessment, and (ii) the percentage of students 20
in the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) in mathematics, as identified by prior year performance 21
on an annual assessment. The numerical values used to determine whether a school has met, 22
exceeded, or has not met expected growth shall be translated to a 100-point scale and used for 23
school reporting purposes as provided in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 24
116-239.8. 25
(d) Calculation of the Overall School Performance Scores and Grades. – The State Board 26
of Education shall calculate the overall school performance score by adding the school 27
achievement score, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, and the school growth score, as 28
determined using EVAAS as provided in subsection (c) of this section, earned by a school. The 29
school achievement score shall account for eighty percent (80%), and the school growth score 30
shall account for twenty percent (20%) of the total sum. achievement metrics from each 31
sub-subdivision in the respective subdivisions of subsection (b) of this section to the four growth 32
metrics listed in subsection (c) of this section, all in equal weight. For all schools, the total school 33
performance score shall be converted to a 100-point scale and used to determine an overall school 34
performance grade. The overall school performance grade shall be based on the following scale 35
and shall not be modified to add any other designation related to other performance measures, 36
such as a "plus" or "minus": 37
(1) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 85 62 is 38
equivalent to an overall school performance grade of A. 39
(1a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 40
or higher, a school performance score of at least 64 is equivalent to an overall 41
school performance grade of A. 42
(2) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 70 54 is 43
equivalent to an overall school performance grade of B. 44
(2a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 45
or higher, a school performance score of at least 57 is equivalent to an overall 46
school performance grade of B. 47
(3) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 55 41 is 48
equivalent to an overall school performance grade of C. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 773-First Edition
(3a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 1
or higher, a school performance score of at least 44 is equivalent to an overall 2
school performance grade of C. 3
(4) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 40 32 is 4
equivalent to an overall school performance grade of D. 5
(4a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 6
or higher, a school performance score of at least 34 is equivalent to an overall 7
school performance grade of D. 8
(5) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of less than 40 32 is 9
equivalent to an overall school performance grade of F. 10
(5a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 11
or higher, a school performance score of less than 34 is equivalent to an overall 12
school performance grade of F. 13
(d1) Establishment of Subgroups of Students. – The State Board shall establish the 14
minimum number of students in a subgroup served by a school that is necessary to disaggregate 15
information on student performance and to determine a subgroup performance score and grade 16
for the following subgroups of students: 17
(1) Economically disadvantaged students. 18
(2) Students from major racial and ethnic groups. 19
(3) Children with disabilities. 20
(4) English learners. 21
(d2) Calculation of the School Performance Scores and Grades for Certain Subgroups of 22
Students Served by a School. – In addition to the overall school performance scores and grades 23
awarded under this section, for each school that serves a minimum number of students in a 24
subgroup of students listed in subsection (d1) of this section, the State Board of Education shall 25
calculate school performance scores and shall determine a corresponding school performance 26
grade for each subgroup using the same method as set forth in subsection (d) of this section. 27
School performance scores for subgroups of students shall not be included in the calculation of 28
the overall school performance scores and grades under subsection (d) of this section. 29
(d3) Report of Subgroup Performance Scores and Grades. – The subgroup performance 30
scores and grades shall be reported separately on the annual school report card provided under 31
G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8 in a way that provides the 32
following information: 33
(1) For the current year and the previous two years, the achievement score for 34
each subgroup of students defined in subsection (d1) of this section for the 35
school. 36
(2) The statewide average achievement score for each subgroup defined in 37
subsection (d1) of this section. 38
(3) The difference between the achievement score for all students in the school 39
and the achievement score for each subgroup that meets the minimum number 40
of students defined in subsection (d1) of this section. 41
(4) Based on the information reported in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the 42
State Board shall determine and identify schools that are closing achievement 43
gaps, experiencing a widening of gaps, or seeing no significant gap changes. 44
(e) Elementary and Middle School Reading and Math Achievement Scores. – For schools 45
serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the school achievement scores in reading 46
and mathematics, respectively, shall be reported separately on the annual school report card 47
provided under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 48
(e1) Career and College Readiness Scores. – For schools serving any students in ninth 49
through twelfth grade, the percentage of students who either (i) achieve the minimum score 50
required for admission into a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina on a 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 773-First Edition Page 5
nationally normed test of college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical Education 1
courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels on a nationally normed test of workplace 2
readiness who either (i) earn a passing score on an advanced course exam, (ii) earn a passing 3
grade in a dual enrollment course, (iii) earn at least five credits through Career and College 4
Promise or any dual enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services Qualification Test score 5
that falls within Category II or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) 6
earn an industry credential shall be reported on the annual school report card provided under 7
G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 8
(f) Indication of Growth. – In addition to awarding the overall school scores for 9
achievement, growth, and performance and the performance grade, using EVAAS, the State 10
Board shall designate that a school has met, exceeded, or has not met expected growth. The 11
designation of student growth shall be clearly displayed in the annual school report card provided 12
under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 13
(g) Access to Annual Report Card Information on the Department's Web Site. Website. 14
– Beginning with data collected in the 2017-2018 school year, the State Board of Education shall 15
provide user-friendly access to the public on the annual report cards issued for local school 16
administrative units and individual schools provided under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 17
115C-238.66, and 116-239.8 through the Department of Public Instruction's Web site. website. 18
The annual report card shall be designed and organized to display the following information more 19
prominently than any other information: 20
(1) A summary for each local school administrative unit and for each individual 21
school of the school performance grades, whether the school has met, 22
exceeded, or has not met expected growth, and any other information required 23
to be provided as part of the annual report card. 24
(2) The percentage of schools receiving an overall school performance letter 25
grade of A, B, C, D, or F earned by each school located within a local school 26
administrative unit and statewide. 27
(3) The number of schools that have met, exceeded, or have not met expected 28
growth by each school located within a local school administrative unit and 29
statewide. 30
(4) A Web page website for each individual school that prominently displays the 31
school's performance grades, whether the school has met, exceeded, or has not 32
met expected growth, and the school's performance and growth scores in a 33
way that is easy for the user to read. 34
(5) The ability to easily compare annual report card information, including school 35
performance grades and whether schools have met, exceeded, or have not met 36
expected growth, for local school administrative units and for individual 37
schools for a time span of at least three years. 38
"§ 115C-83.16. School performance indicators for the purpose of compliance with federal 39
law. 40
(a) The State Board of Education shall use the school performance scores and grades as 41
calculated under G.S. 115C-83.15 to satisfy the federal requirement under the Elementary and 42
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), P.L. 43
114-95, to meaningfully differentiate the performance of schools on an annual basis. For the 44
purpose of compliance with federal law, the indicators shall be defined as follows: 45
(1) For schools serving any students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the 46
State Board shall define the indicators as follows: 47
a. Academic indicators. – 48
1. The academic achievement indicator shall include the 49
following measures: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Bill 773-First Edition
I. Proficiency on annual assessments for mathematics in 1
grades three through eight. 2
II. Proficiency on annual assessments for reading in 3
grades three through eight. 4
2. The other academic indicator shall include the following 5
measures: 6
I. Proficiency on annual assessments for science in grade 7
five. 8
II. Proficiency on annual assessments for science in grade 9
eight. 10
3. The English language proficiency indicator shall be the 11
percentage of students who progress in achieving English 12
language proficiency on annual assessments in grades three 13
through eight. 14
b. School quality and student success indicator. – The measure of school 15
quality and student success shall be the growth score earned by 16
schools. 17
(2) For schools serving any students in ninth through twelfth grade, the State 18
Board shall define the indicators as follows: 19
a. Academic indicators. – 20
1. The academic achievement indicator shall include the 21
following measures: 22
I. Proficiency on either the Algebra I or Integrated Math 23
I end-of-course test or, for students who completed 24
Algebra I or Integrated Math I before ninth grade, 25
another mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 26
II. Proficiency on the English II end-of-course test. 27
III. The growth score earned by schools. 28
2. Repealed by Session Laws 2017-206, s. 1(b), effective August 29
30, 2017, and applicable beginning with the 2017-2018 school 30
year. 31
3. The graduation rate indicator shall be the percentage of 32
students who graduate within four years of entering high 33
school. 34
4. The English language proficiency indicator shall be the 35
percentage of students who progress in achieving English 36
language proficiency. 37
b. School quality and student success indicator. – The school quality and 38
student success indicator shall be made up of the following measures: 39
1. Proficiency on the Biology end-of-course test. 40
2. The percentage of students who complete Algebra II or 41
Integrated Math III with a passing grade. 42
3. The percentage of students who either (i) achieve the minimum 43
score required for admission into a constituent institution of 44
The University of North Carolina on a nationally normed test 45
of college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical 46
Education courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels 47
on a nationally normed test of workplace readiness.who either 48
(i) earn a passing score on an advanced course exam, (ii) earn 49
a passing grade in a dual enrollment course, (iii) earn at least 50
five credits through Career and College Promise or any dual 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 773-First Edition Page 7
enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services Qualification 1
Test score that falls within Category II or higher on the Armed 2
Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) earn an industry 3
credential. 4
4. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-142, s. 2, effective July 19, 5
2019, and applicable to measures based on data from the 6
2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter. 7
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and only for the purpose of conforming 8
with ESSA, the State Board may label measures as indicators different from those described in 9
subsection (a) of this section; provided that each measure shall be calculated in accordance with 10
the requirements of G.S. 115C-83.15. 11
"§ 115C-83.17. Definitions. 12
The following definitions apply in this Part: 13
(1) Achievement score. – A numerical score on a scale of zero to 100 that is based 14
on the sum of points earned by a school or by a subgroup of students pursuant 15
to G.S. 115C-83.15. 16
(1a) Advanced course exam. – An examination given at the conclusion of an 17
associated Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced 18
International Certificate of Education course. 19
(2) Growth score. – A numerical score measuring student growth calculated for a 20
school or for a subgroup of students pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15. 21
(3) Overall school performance grade. – The letter grade earned by a school for 22
all students served by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d). 23
(4) Overall school performance score. – The numerical score earned by a school 24
that is calculated by adding the school achievement score and the school 25
growth score earned by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d). 26
(5) Subgroup performance grade. – The letter grade earned by a school for a 27
subgroup of students served by the school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d2). 28
(6) Subgroup performance score. – The numerical score earned by a school that 29
is calculated by adding the subgroup achievement score and the subgroup 30
growth score earned by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d2)." 31
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to school 32
performance grades and metrics based on data from the 2025-2026 school year. 33