North Carolina public-school data
North Carolina reading statistics.
Grade-by-grade reading results for North Carolina public-school students, plus national context for understanding the numbers. Last updated October 8, 2026.
of students demonstrated grade-level proficiency in reading.
of students demonstrated grade-level proficiency in reading.
met North Carolina’s college-and-career readiness standard in reading.
State assessment results
Reading proficiency by grade.
North Carolina reports grade-level proficiency as scoring at Level 3 or above on the End-of-Grade reading assessment. These figures cover public-school students who took the assessment in the 2025-26 school year.
| Grade | Students at grade-level proficiency |
|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 55.3% |
| Grade 4 | 57.4% |
| Grade 5 | 55.1% |
| Grade 6 | 54.6% |
| Grade 7 | 56.1% |
| Grade 8 | 55.9% |
Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2025-26 Performance and Growth of North Carolina Public Schools, published September 2, 2026.
Higher readiness standard
College-and-career readiness by grade.
North Carolina’s college-and-career readiness standard is Level 4 or above. It is a higher benchmark than grade-level proficiency and should not be treated as the share of students reading at grade level.
| Grade | Students at college-and-career readiness |
|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 27.8% |
| Grade 4 | 37.6% |
| Grade 5 | 36.8% |
| Grade 6 | 30.3% |
| Grade 7 | 33.1% |
| Grade 8 | 31.3% |
Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2025-26 Performance and Growth of North Carolina Public Schools, published September 2, 2026.
National context
What the national assessment shows.
30% of fourth-grade public-school students nationally performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading in 2024.
29% of eighth-grade public-school students nationally performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading in 2024.
Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2024 Reading Assessment. NAEP Proficient is a national assessment benchmark, not the same measure as North Carolina’s End-of-Grade proficiency standard.
About these figures
Use the right number for the right question.
This page brings together publicly available assessment results. State testing results describe the students assessed in North Carolina public schools, not every child or every school setting. They do not diagnose dyslexia or explain an individual child’s reading needs.
For a closer look at reading and language patterns families may notice, visit Signs of Dyslexia in Kids. Families in Apex can also explore dyslexia tutoring.
Cite this page
Apex Literacy Specialists. “North Carolina Reading Statistics: 2025-26 Data.” Updated October 8, 2026. https://apexliteracyspecialists.com/north-carolina-reading-statistics