The Budget Behind the Diploma

Each spring, nearly 90,000 North Carolina high school seniors receive their diplomas, marking a milestone celebrated by families, schools, and the state alike. With the four-year cohort graduation rate reaching a decade high of 87.7 percent in 2024–25, the story appears to be one of steady progress and success. By traditional measures, the system is delivering.

But a diploma is only the starting line.

This webinar on takes a deeper look at what happens after graduation, especially for students in communities where opportunity is not evenly distributed. In high-poverty districts, majority-Black communities in the eastern coastal plain, rural mountain counties, and under-resourced urban neighborhoods; the path beyond high school often diverges sharply. Here, school performance and postsecondary access remain closely tied to zip code, raising critical questions about whether educational attainment truly translates into economic mobility.

Drawing on data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Education Law Center, this session examines the full educational pipeline—from graduation to college enrollment to workforce outcomes. It also situates these trends within the rapidly shifting policy landscape shaped by two major developments: the conclusion of the Leandro school funding case and the expansion of vouchers and charter schools.

Participants will explore how these forces intersect and what they mean for equity, access, and the future of public education in North Carolina. Most importantly, the webinar will challenge attendees to rethink success—not just as a diploma earned, but as a life trajectory supported.