HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (September 4, 2026) – Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) is celebrating its strongest results in years, with newly released state accountability data highlighting the district’s continued academic growth and achievement. The results, released by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, reflect student and school performance during the 2025-2026 school year.
HCPS demonstrated strong academic achievement and exceptional student growth during the 2025-2026 school year, with 96% of schools meeting or exceeding state growth expectations. The district also advanced to 18th among North Carolina’s 115 public school districts in overall grade-level proficiency, placing HCPS in the top 16% statewide.
North Carolina school performance grades are based on a state-established formula that considers both student achievement and academic growth. Student proficiency on state assessments accounts for 80% of a school’s performance score, while academic growth accounts for 20%.
Students in HCPS performed above the state average in multiple subject areas, including:
- -Math in grades 3-8
- -Science in grades 5 and 8
- -Reading in grades 3-8
- -High school end-of-course subjects: Math 1, Math 3, Biology, and English 2
“These results reflect the tremendous work of our teachers, school leaders, staff, and students, who set specific goals and were intentional about the work needed to achieve them,” said Dr. Shannon Marlowe, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. “We are incredibly proud to see that commitment reflected in the continued growth and success of our schools, but we know our work is not finished. We will continue building on this momentum, striving for excellence, and providing the best possible education for every student in Henderson County.”
Eleven HCPS schools exceeded growth expectations: Clear Creek Elementary, Dana Elementary, Etowah Elementary, Upward Elementary, Apple Valley Middle, Flat Rock Middle, Hendersonville Middle, East Henderson High, Hendersonville High, North Henderson High, and Henderson County Early College. North Henderson High earned the district’s highest Growth Index at 10.7.
Adding to the district’s strong 2025-2026 results, no HCPS schools were designated as low-performing for the school year.
All four traditional high schools: East Henderson, Hendersonville, North Henderson, and West Henderson, earned overall school performance grades of “B,” while Henderson County Early College achieved an “A.”
HCPS also reached its highest graduation rate in district history, at 93.7%, ranking 14th among all North Carolina school districts, and further reflecting the district’s commitment to graduating all students ready for their future.
“This was a year of significant progress for Henderson County Public Schools, and these results demonstrate the tremendous growth taking place in classrooms across our district,” said Superintendent Mark R. Garrett. “To see Henderson County rank among the top school districts in North Carolina for academic growth while also continuing to perform at a high level in student achievement is something our entire community can be proud of. These results reflect the hard work of our students and the extraordinary commitment of our teachers, principals and staff, along with the support of our families and community. Most importantly, they show that our students are growing academically and that the work taking place in our schools is making a difference.”
The state’s detailed School Report Cards for each school will be released in November, providing additional data and insight into school-level performance.
