Children in care homes or foster care are being "written off" by the education system, children's charity Barnardo's has claimed in a new report.
In Northern Ireland, children in care can move schools up to seven times as their carers change.
Barnardo's said it wants a designated teacher for "looked after" children in every school.
Their chances of passing even one exam are half that of the total population, according to Wednesday's report.
The chance of them being bullied is twice as high as other children, it said.
BBC Northern Ireland education correspondent Maggie Taggart said half the children surveyed for the Failed By The System report said they had never been praised or rewarded for good work at school.
"As pupils here wait to see their full GCSE results on Thursday only 44% of looked after children can expect to get even one GCSE compared to 96% of the total population," she said.
"Barnardo's says there should be changes - it wants to see a designated teacher for looked after children appointed in every school.
"Education boards should avoid moving a child from one school to another and, in particular, Barnardo's says they should not move around during GCSE years."
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