Brunswick County Schools students show strong growth in reading and math

BOLIVIA, N.C. — Brunswick County Schools students finished the 2025-26 school year with encouraging gains in early literacy and mathematics, according to benchmark data recently presented to the Brunswick County Board of Education.

The results were highlighted in a recent Port City Daily article, which reported that Brunswick County Schools students in kindergarten through third grade finished the year above North Carolina averages on DIBELS reading assessments.

Across those grade levels, 74% of students finished the year performing at or above benchmark, an increase from 70% during the previous school year. Eight of the district’s 10 elementary schools met the reading growth benchmark, compared with six schools the previous year.

Kindergarten students showed particularly strong progress. At the beginning of the year, 24% of students were performing at or above benchmark. By the end of the year, that number had increased to 80%, placing Brunswick County Schools 8 percentage points above the state average.

Waccamaw Elementary School and Town Creek Elementary School also reached the district’s goal of having at least 80% of students finish the year at or above the DIBELS benchmark.

Students demonstrated significant progress in mathematics as well. At the beginning of the school year, 21% of students in kindergarten through eighth grade were performing at or above grade level on the i-Ready diagnostic assessment. By the end of the year, that number had climbed to 59%.

All elementary and middle schools achieved high growth in mathematics. Seven of the district’s 10 elementary schools were identified as both high-growth and high-performing, while five of the district’s six middle schools achieved both designations for the second consecutive year.

“We want to celebrate what our teachers are doing,” Executive Director of Professional Development and Elementary Education Jen Damin said during the presentation.

The results reflect the combined work of classroom teachers, instructional coaches, interventionists, principals and district instructional support staff. Brunswick County Schools will continue using assessment data to identify areas of success and provide additional support where students need it.

Read the full Port City Daily article and explore the results in greater detail.