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Education Week ranks Virginia schools fourth in nation

Posted at 11:51 PM, Jan 10, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-10 23:51:58-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)–Schools in the Commonwealth have been ranked fourth in the entire nation in the Education Week’s Quality Counts journal report.

There were no “A’s” in the report. Only Maryland – with a B+ – earned a higher overall letter grade, although Massachusetts and New York also received B’s. Virginia also earned a B. 

The report graded all 50 states in a half a dozen different categories, including standards, assessments, and early childhood education.

All 50 states are graded based on the performance of states in six broad areas: the role of education in promoting success at various stages of life; K-12 student achievement; rigor and quality of academic standards, assessments and accountability systems; teacher preparation, licensure and evaluation; school finance; and transitions and alignment of state policies related to school, college and workforce readiness.

Virginia’s letter grade for transitions and policy alignment rose from a B- to a B in 2012.

“Virginia is blessed to have some of the best schools, school systems and teachers in the nation but all students deserve to attend excellent schools with great teachers.” Governor Bob McDonnell said. “The closer we come to achieving this goal, the closer the Commonwealth will be to ranking at the very top in national reports such as Quality Counts.

The report graded all 50 states in a half a dozen different categories, including standards, assessments, and early childhood education.

To see every state’s report care, click here. Reports from previous years are also available