If there is one thing we teach at Planet Improv, it’s that you have to adapt when the script falls apart. But when it comes to the leadership of our public-school systems, it feels like we’ve been stuck in a perpetual, exhausting improv sketch with no resolution in sight.
The piece below by Evan Moore highlights the newly released 2026 public school rankings, putting North Carolina right in the middle of the pack at No. 22. It’s a sobering look at where our state stands across critical metrics like staffing, class sizes, and safety. However, before you dive into the numbers, there is a massive piece of context you need to keep in mind. This study was conducted before Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) hit yet another staggering roadblock. In June 2026, CMS Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill was suspended with pay pending an outside investigation into matters of administrative and operational oversight.
For those of us keeping score, Dr. Hill’s sudden suspension is just the latest chapter in a staggering saga of leadership instability for North Carolina’s second-largest school district. CMS has now cycled through seven different superintendents over the last 15 years. Every time we think we are building momentum, the floor drops out. Take a look at where our schools stand nationally and then let’s talk about why we can’t seem to get the foundation right.
New US public school rankings just came out. Here’s where NC landed
By Evan Moore
One of the first nationwide public-school rankings of 2026 was just released. How did North Carolina fare?
The study compared state education systems across 11 key metrics, including test scores, class sizes, staffing, school availability, safety and digital readiness.
The report found that Northeastern states dominated the top of the list, with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Connecticut taking four of the top five spots.
North Carolina came in at No. 22 on the list.
Researchers from The University of Melbourne Online noted that the strongest-performing states tended to have lower dropout rates and smaller student-teacher ratios, along with statewide digital learning plans. North Carolina’s public school dropout rate is 2%, and its student-teacher ratio is 22.2, according to the study.
They also highlighted that firearm incident rates and access to certified teachers increasingly play a role in how families judge school quality.
Here’s more about North Carolina school ratings.
Top high schools in NC
Despite North Carolina’s middle-of-the-pack rating by the University of Melbourne, multiple public high schools were ranked nationally last year by U.S. News & World Report.
Three public high schools landed in the top 100 nationally: The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro (No. 31) and STEM Early College at N.C. A&T (No. 44) in Greensboro, and Onslow Early College in Jacksonville (No. 76).
Other public schools receiving high marks in the Charlotte and Raleigh metro areas include Raleigh Charter High School (No. 206), Green Level High (No. 332) and Highland School of Technology (No. 392).
States with the best public schools Here are the states with the best public schools, according to the University of Melbourne study:
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Wisconsin
- Vermont
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Colorado
- South Dakota
States with the worst public schools Here are the states with the best public schools, according to the Melbourne study:
- Idaho
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- Nevada
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Alaska
- Oklahoma
- New Mexico
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Looking at these numbers, I’m left with the same nagging question that keeps me up at night: Why can’t public education seem to get it right, especially in my current home state of North Carolina?
We have incredible pockets of excellence in North Carolina—just look at the early colleges in Greensboro and Jacksonville hitting the national top 100. The raw talent, the brilliant students, and the hardworking educators are all right here. But a school system cannot thrive in the long term when the steering wheel keeps getting ripped off the dashboard.
Seven superintendents in 15 years is not a statistic; it’s a systemic failure of continuity. When leadership changes that rapidly, long-term strategy goes out the window, morale plummets, and our classroom metrics suffer. In improv, the golden rule is “Yes, and,” you accept the premise given to you and you build on it to support your partner. Right now, it feels like our school leadership paradigm is constantly shouting “No, stop, let’s start over.” Until we find a way to stabilize the top, provide transparent oversight, and truly support the social-emotional and academic frameworks of our districts, we are going to stay firmly stuck at No. 22. Our kids deserve a script they can actually depend on.