NC High Schoolers Thrive in College-Level Courses

0:00It's April 2, I'm Cory with the story and this is Durham News Today, local news powered by AI. A majority of North Carolina high school graduates are now taking in passing college level courses like Advanced Placement International, baccalaureate, and dual enrollment classes. State Superintendent Mogreen celebrated this at the latest state board of education meeting, calling it historic and tying it to record highs in. Graduation rates, job credentials, and AP exam passes. He even said public schools might never have been stronger. The career and college promise program is driving a lot of this, letting high schoolers enroll in actual college courses for free credit. That includes traditional schools, busing kids to community colleges, and 138 early college high schools partnering with. Universities, where students grab a diploma, plus up to two years of college under their belt. Students are feeling the boost big time. One senior from Fayetteville, racked up enough credits to finish college two years early,

1:01building mad confidence in topping her class of over three. Hundred. Another from Durham, first-gen college, bound with parents who stopped in middle school, landed a full ride to Harvard thanks to the programs, community, and rigor. New numbers show 38% of last year's grads, that's 44,436 kids, jumped into dual enrollment up. Two percent. 95% earned college credit, and 86,998 students enrolled overall, a 10% jump. Diverse groups are killing it too, with 54% of Asian grads and solid rates for American Indian and Hispanic students. North Carolina public schools are charging toward being the best in the nation by 2030, proving what dedicated students and smart programs can do together.