February 23 to February 27 was Public Schools Week 2026! In NC, the vast majority of our K-12 students are enrolled in public schools. Throughout our state, there are about 2700 public schools and more than 1.5 million students!
This year’s theme—Building Stronger, Fairer, and More Resilient Public Education Systems—highlights the essential role public schools play in strengthening communities, expanding opportunity, and preparing all students to thrive in school and beyond.
Public Schools ARE Important! Public schools unite us – they bring students together from diverse backgrounds, welcome all students, and give them an opportunity to receive a quality education. They provide a strong economic foundation for our local communities by preparing citizens who are equipped to fully participate in society and in our nation’s democracy.
High-quality public schools bolster real-estate values and help businesses thrive. Public schools are a HUGE PART of our communities.
Public Schools Week is a time when our students, parents, educators, business and community leaders can work together to highlight the strength and potential of our state’s public schools and our students’ futures.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS! In 1868, our legislative leaders affirmed that a free, sound, basic education is so important to the well-being of our state’s social, cultural and economic well-being that they included this right to education in our state constitution. North Carolina gives its children a right to an education through both the state constitution and state laws.
The North Carolina Constitution addresses a right to education in two places.
Article I, Section 15 says “The people have a right to the privilege of education, and it is the duty of the State to guard and maintain that right.”
Article IX: Education has ten Sections; several about primary/secondary education are critical: Section 1 says “… the means of education shall be forever encouraged,” Section 2 addresses the duty of the state and local government to provide a uniform system of free public schools “…wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students,” and Sections 5, 6 and 7 reference “free public” schools.
State laws also make education a right in North Carolina. For example, N.C.G.S. 115C-1 states that “A general and uniform system of free public schools shall be provided throughout the State, wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students, in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the Constitution of North Carolina. Tuition shall be free of charge to all children of the State, and to every person of the State less than 21 years old, who has not completed a standard high school course of study.”
In 1997, the North Carolina Supreme Court determined that all children in North Carolina are entitled to a “sound basic education,” which means there is a qualitative component to the North Carolina’s system of public schools. The State is obligated to meet a quality standard and not simply provide buildings and teachers. In Leandro v. State, 346 N.C. 336 (1997) the Court defined “sound basic education” as that which provides children and youth with all the opportunities necessary to become an adult possessing:
- Sufficient ability to read, write, speak English and sufficient knowledge of fundamental math and physical science to enable students to function in a complex and rapidly changing society
- Sufficient fundamental knowledge of geography, history, basic economic and political systems to enable students to make informed choices about issues that affect the student personally, or affect the student’s community, state, and nation
- Sufficient academic and vocational skills to enable the student to successfully engage in post-secondary education or vocational training and to compete with others in further formal education or gainful employment.”
North Carolina’s early leaders made public education an essential part of North Carolina’s duty to prepare students for responsible citizenship. They recognized that public schooling was a way to promote cohesion across social classes, improve social outcomes for all students, and help ensure that the citizens electing our leaders had the ability to read and make informed decisions.
North Carolina’s public educators are doing their part. We have the most highly qualified teachers in the nation, with the most National Board Certified teachers and more in the National Board certification process. At the same time, due to high attrition rates, North Carolina is relying more and more on teachers coming to the profession through alternative pathways that allow teachers to “learn on the job” as they work to become fully licensed.
North Carolina public schools are working hard to prepare students for college AND careers.
There are 138 early college high schools in North Carolina that allow students to earn college credit while in high school. In 2024-25 North Carolina beat the national average for the second year in a row in the percentage of students achieving a qualifying score (3, 4, or 5) on an advanced placement test. A qualifying score earns students college credit at most colleges and universities.
Students looking to go directly into a career also get a boost in public schools. Every district in the state has a career tech (CTE) program that connects students with real-world job experiences and career pathways. In 2024-25, North Carolina’s CTE students earned a record-breaking 382,964 industry credentials. Only one state (NE) has a higher percentage of students enrolled in CTE courses.
Join Us In Celebrating Our Public Schools Together! NC PTA and Public Schools First NC have teamed up to celebrate the valuable contributions of educators and education advocates in our public schools and the communities they serve.
NC PTA and PSFNC invite you to share stories about the great things happening at your school – lift up the successes of your educators, your volunteers, your students, and administrators. Help us celebrate the fabulous programs going on in your schools. Tell us why your public school is AWESOME!
Email us at [email protected] so we can share your pride!
