North Carolina education surveys reveal data gaps and safety improvements

A report by the American Enterprise Institute found that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has been collecting family‑structure information from North Carolina students for more than a decade but has never published the results. The authors argue that, because family structure is a required demographic category under federal law, NAEP should release scores broken down by household type alongside existing categories such as race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Separately, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released its latest High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, showing declines in school‑based weapons possession (from 3.1% to 1.1%) and physical fights (from 22% to 16.4%). Fewer students reported feeling unsafe at school. However, mental‑health concerns remain pronounced, with 29% of high‑schoolers reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness and 11.4% indicating serious thoughts of suicide.

Both pieces of data highlight ongoing challenges for educators and policymakers in North Carolina, underscoring the need for transparent reporting and continued mental‑health support in schools.