NC data will be released Thursday on test scores, graduation rates and school performance

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on Thursday will release state performance data for the 2021-22 school year, a review of test scores, graduation rates and school performance.

It's not a secret that stress from the coronavirus pandemic and virtual learning have impacted education. Test scores for the 2020-21 school year showed less than half of the students passed most tests.

Tamika Walker-Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said learning loss is still a concern, but she is optimistic.

"All of our students during the past two years have experienced learning disruptions because we all experienced a global pandemic," she said. "Educators will continue to do what we know best -- we go into our classrooms, we teach our students and we teach the curriculum that allows them to grow ... so any of the test scores that come back will be reflective of all those different variables."

Johnston and Cumberland County schools will both hold press conferences Thursday to discuss the state's data once it is released at 10 a.m.

The Johnston County review will be held at North Johnston Middle School at 435 Oil Company Road in Micro at 1:30 p.m., and Cumberland County Schools will hold a press conference at the same time at 396 Elementary Drive in Fayetteville.