The Education Week Research Center developed the Chance-for-Success Index to better understand the role that education plays in promoting positive outcomes across an individual’s lifetime. Based on an original state-by-state analysis, this index combines information from 13 indicators that span a person’s life from cradle to career. Those indicators fall into three sub-sections: early foundations, school years, and adult outcomes.Diving into the findings, North Carolina earns a C+ in the Chance-for-Success category and ranks 30th. The average state earns a C-plus.
For early foundations, which examines factors that help children get off to a good start, North Carolina earns a B and ranks 33rd. The average state posts a B.
North Carolina receives a C for the school years, a sub-category focusing on metrics related to pre-k enrollment through postsecondary participation. It finishes 26th in the nation in this area. By comparison, the nation as a whole earns a C-plus.
In the area of adult outcomes, based on postsecondary educational attainment and workforce indicators, North Carolina’s grade is a C-plus. It ranks 26th in the nation. The national average is a C-plus.
