On the Rise: Harnett County Schools Celebrates Academic Growth

LILLINGTON, N.C. — Harnett County Schools released more information Tuesday evening about the N.C. Department of Public Instruction's 2025-26 accountability test results.

During Tuesday's Harnett County Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Chris Pearson went into greater detail regarding the district's results.

As previously reported, 10 of Harnett County's 26 eligible schools improved by at least one letter grade. Those schools are:

• Buies Creek Elementary
• Erwin Elementary
• Johnsonville Elementary
• Lillington-Shawtown Elementary
• South Harnett Elementary
• LaFayette Year-Round
• Dunn Middle
• Highland Middle
• Western Harnett Middle
• Harnett Virtual Academy

Harnett Virtual Academy also made the list. However, because it is a K-12 school, along with other factors, its score is treated differently.

Seventeen of the 25 eligible schools either met or exceeded growth. This is up from 2024-25, when 13 schools met or exceeded growth. The 2025-26 schools are:

Angier Elementary	LaFayette Elementary
Buies Creek Elementary	Coats-Erwin Middle
Coats Elementary	Dunn Middle
Dunn Elementary	Highland Middle
Erwin Elementary	Western Harnett Middle
Johnsonville Elementary	Harnett Central High
Lillington-Shawtown Elementary	Harnett Early College
Overhills Elementary	Triton High
South Harnett Elementary

Erwin Elementary not only exceeded growth but also improved its score by two letter grades. The school reported an 18-point increase from the 2024-25 school year.

South Harnett Elementary exceeded growth for the second year in a row, making it the only elementary school in the district to do so.

LaFayette Year-Round remains the district's highest-performing elementary school, improving its score to a B.

Both Dunn Middle and Western Harnett Middle ranked in the top 0.2% statewide for growth.

"It lets the district know that it can be done," Pearson said of the achievements. "It's a lot of work, but it can be done."

Six schools shed their low-performing designation, leaving six schools with that status. That's down from 14 schools with the designation in the 2023-24 school year.

"We're highly motivated to get that number even lower as we move ahead," Pearson said.

The schools that shed the low-performing designation are:

• Angier Elementary
• Buies Creek Elementary
• Erwin Elementary
• Lillington-Shawtown Elementary
• Highland Middle
• Western Harnett Middle

Harnett County Schools has a lot to celebrate. Other fast facts from the district's 2025-26 results include:

• 23 schools increased their overall performance grade.
• District proficiency increased by 5.4%.
• The five-year graduation rate increased by 3.1 percentage points to 90.9%.
• The ACT/WorkKeys composite increased by 7 points.
• English learner progress increased by 2.9 points.

"Our teachers are the ones in front of the students every day. Every chance I get, I want to shout them out," Pearson said during Tuesday's meeting. "They're the ones putting in the work, in front of the students every day, so we want to thank them for all of their hard work."

Pearson also set key goals for the coming school year to ensure the district's growth continues.

He explained that 10 schools are within six points of increasing by a letter grade. Pearson said the growth seen during the previous school year is proof that the goal is achievable.

The district intends to place a greater emphasis on fourth grade and Math 1 this school year, as those were identified as areas needing improvement.

Pearson said Harnett County Schools hopes to see 100% of schools meet or exceed growth this year and the remaining schools shed their low-performing designation. He believes both goals are attainable.

Pearson emphasized during the meeting that the results are about more than numbers.

"Every number has a name, every name has a story and every story matters," he said.