North Carolina’s Ninth Graders in Crisis | Fayetteville News

Ninth graders in North Carolina are stuck in a cycle of academic struggle, with over 10% repeating or making up coursework in the 2021-22 school year — a trend that predates the pandemic and signals deep-rooted systemic issues. While state officials hint at improvement, experts warn retention harms students more than helps, especially as dropout risks soar. Rooted in underfunding, segregation, and local control, the South’s high retention rates disproportionately impact disadvantaged youth. But hope shines through innovative programs like A&T Four Middle College’s “Welcome to the Brotherhood” summer initiative, which builds community and sets expectations — though these efforts falter without sustained funding. The real solution? Invest early, support deeply, and stop letting kids fall through the cracks. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8179e3db5f0a9aa3