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Why did so many schools miss accreditation?

Posted at 12:25 PM, Sep 20, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-21 00:46:36-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The percentage of fully accredited schools in Virginia has dropped "sharply," according  to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The department attributed the decline to "the introduction of rigorous new reading, writing and science Standards of Learning (SOL) tests during 2012-2013, as well as a second year of results from more challenging mathematics assessments."

[Click here to see the entire list of schools]

Several Central Virginia schools, in some of the state's largest districts, failed to meet full accreditation and could be taken over by the state.  The cities of Richmond and Petersburg and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico all have one or more schools in jeopardy.

Chesterfield County

  1. Marguerite Christian Elementary (accredited with warning)
  2. Ettrick Elementary (accredited with warning)
  3. Salem Church Elementary (accredited with warning)
  4. Falling Creek Middle (accredited with warning)
  5. Chesterfield Community High (accredited with warning)

“Parents have high expectations for their children, and Chesterfield County Public Schools has high expectations for all students,” Chesterfield County Superintendent Dr. Marcus Newsome said in a statement in response to the results. “The SOL tests that students took this past year are so different from previous years that it is not possible to accurately compare this year’s scores to previous scores. Our school system will continue to work with the state to provide students, staff members and schools the resources necessary to succeed."

Henrico County

  1. Mehfoud Elementary (accredited with warning)
  2. Brookland Middle (accredited with warning)
  3. Cashell Donahoe Elementary (accredited with warning)
  4. Charles Johnson Elementary (accredited with warning)
  5. Elko Middle (accredited with warning)
  6. Fair Oaks Elementary (accredited with warning)
  7. Fairfield Middle (accredited with warning)
  8. Glen Lea Elementary (accredited with warning)
  9. Ratcliffe Elementary (accredited with warning)
  10. Harvie Elementary (accredited with warning)
  11. Highland Springs High (accredited with warning)
  12. John Rolfe Middle (accredited with warning)
  13. L. Douglas Wilder Middle School (accredited with warning)
  14. Montrose Elementary (accredited with warning)
  15. Sandston Elementary (accredited with warning)
  16. Varina Elementary (accredited with warning)
  17. Varina High (accredited with warning)

Richmond

  1. Armstrong High School (accredited with warning)
  2. Fred D. Thompson Middle School (accredited with warning)
  3. George Wythe High School (accredited with warning)
  4. John Marshall High School (accredited with warning)
  5. Thomas C. Boushall Middle (accredited with warning)

In Petersburg, Peabody Middle School and A.P. Hill Elementary were denied state accreditation because of "chronically low student achievement."

According to the Virginia Department of Education, 77 percent, or 1,413, of Virginia's 1,828 public schools are rated as fully accredited for 2013-2014. That number was 93 percent for 2012-2013.

The number of schools accredited with warning nearly quadrupled to 395.

Thirty-six school system received full accreditation:

  1. Charlottesville
  2. Clarke County
  3. Colonial Heights
  4. Falls Church
  5. Floyd County
  6. Franklin County
  7. Fredericksburg
  8. Giles County
  9. Goochland County
  10. Hanover County
  11. King George County
  12. King William County
  13. Lexington
  14. Mathews County
  15. Middlesex County
  16. Nelson County
  17. New Kent County
  18. Northumberland County
  19. Norton
  20. Orange County
  21. Page County
  22. Patrick County
  23. Poquoson
  24. Powhatan County
  25. Prince George County
  26. Richmond County
  27. Roanoke County
  28. Rockingham County
  29. Salem
  30. Shenandoah County
  31. Stafford County
  32. Surry County
  33. Warren County
  34. West Point
  35. Williamsburg-James City County
  36. Wise County