Low Performing Districts and Schools in North Carolina are defined by the NC General Assembly and are based on the School Performance Grade and EVAAS growth.

“Low-performing schools are those that receive a school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "met expected growth" or "not met expected growth" as defined by G.S. 115C-83.15.” (G.S. 115C-105.37(a)), and

“A Low-performing local school administrative unit is a unit in which the majority of the schools in that unit that received a school performance grade and school growth score as provided in G.S. 115C-83.15 have been identified as low-performing schools, as provided in G.S. 115C-105.37.” (G.S. 115C-105.39A(a)).

One of the requirements of the law is the development of a school or district plan for improvement that specifically addresses the strategies the school or district will implement to improve both the School Performance Grade and School Growth designation. These final plans are shared with the public, including parents, guardians, and staff and are made available through the local district website and the NCDPI website.