Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools posted its highest high school graduation rate on record during the 2025-26 school year.

The district's four-year cohort graduation rate reached 87.9%, up 3.3 percentage points from the previous year, according to a CMS press release tied to North Carolina's annual school accountability data released Sept. 2. Both CMS and the state reached their highest graduation rates on record that year, the Charlotte Observer reported, with North Carolina's statewide rate at 88.8%.

For families at Hough, North Mecklenburg and Hopewell high schools, the district-wide gains signal broad momentum, though CMS has not released school-by-school graduation figures.

In social media posts Oct. 27, CMS cited a slightly higher figure of 88.1% and called it the district's "biggest increase in over a decade." The district has not publicly explained the difference between the two numbers. The 88.1% figure appeared in posts on Instagram and X crediting Cohort Graduation Rate (CGR) Teams for the gains. Those teams pair counselors, social workers, family advocates, data managers, graduation coaches and administrators to track student progress and remove barriers.

CMS graduation specialists gathered CGR Teams for an annual training and celebration, recognizing schools for rates above 90%, perfect state audit scores and 100% graduation rates.

The graduation gains came alongside broad academic improvement. CMS increased grade-level proficiency in every tested subject in 2025-26, according to the press release. Among the standout year-over-year gains:

  • High School Math 1: 42.0% proficient, up 13 percentage points
  • Biology: 58.4%, up 9.8 points
  • Science, grades 5 and 8: 69.3%, up 7.6 points

Third-grade reading proficiency jumped 11 percentage points to 57.3% on the state assessment. Nearly 79% of CMS schools earned an A, B or C performance grade, up about 8 points from 2024-25 and 26 points since 2021-22.

Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill said in the Sept. 2 press release, "This progress belongs to our students, teachers, school leaders, staff and families." Hill was placed on paid leave over the summer while the school board investigated matters involving administrative and operational oversight, the Charlotte Observer reported. The board voted to release a report on the investigation's findings by the end of September.

WCNC reported that district leaders acknowledged work remains on achievement gaps.

The number of low-performing CMS schools fell to 28 in 2025-26, down from 31 the prior year and 50 in 2021-22.