On North Carolina's end-of-course (EOC) tests, NC Math 3 is reported on a scale from 520 to 588 (2019 and 2021 to 2026), and each score falls into one of 4 performance levels. Reaching Level 3 (Proficient), at 550 or above, is the state's proficiency line.
| Level | Score range | What it means | Statewide 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Proficient | 520–549 | Below the state standard | 31% |
| Level 3 (Proficient) | 550–555 | Meeting the state standard (the proficiency line) | 23% |
| Level 4 | 556–562 | Above the state standard | 25% |
| Level 5 | 563–588 | The highest level, above the state standard | 21% |
Statewide in 2026, about 69% of the students counted for NC Math 3 reached Level 3 (Proficient) or higher. The bar above shows the share at each level (left = lowest).
Each test counts the students at a school who took that end-of-course test during the school year, including the summer school session just before it. NC Math 1 and NC Math 3 count high school students only: students who take NC Math 1 in grade 8 or earlier are counted in grade 8 math in the grades 3-8 section, not here. The one exception is 2018, when the NC Math 1 counts also include the NC Math 1 scores that 9th graders had earned in middle school. Students who take the NCEXTEND1 alternate test are not included.
More on who is counted, and how: see how we count.
A score's meaning depends on where it lands in the ranges above, and on how it compares to other students who took the same test. Our free tool turns an NC Math 3 score into an estimated percentile versus the school, district and the whole state, so you can see where a score stands, not just its level.
Look up an NC Math 3 percentile →