RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - On Tuesday the State Department of Education identified 37 schools as low performing or priority schools for the 2013-2014 school year.
These schools are ranked in the lowest five percent of schools receiving federal funding.
"Those schools receive the most intensive interventions," said Charles Pyle, Director of Communicators for the Virginia Department of Education.
Out of the 37 priority schools, 12 are in Richmond.
"To have one-third of the schools be in priority status right here in Richmond is completely unacceptable," said Jeff Bourne, Richmond School Board Chairman.
Bourne said the district needs to start from scratch and says what it's been doing for the last several years clearly isn't working.
"We need to look at everything we've been doing. That goes from our curriculum to the people in the classroom providing academic oversight," said Bourne.
Cynthia Smith, who has a granddaughter at Richmond Public Schools told CBS 6 there needs to be change, but said she isn't sure how much longer she will be keeping her grand children in RPS.
"I plan on moving to Charlottesville...because of the schools, I just want him to have the best education there is," said Smith.
CBS 6 asked Bourne what the school board is going to do to keep parents within the school system. Bourne said they plan to be honest and acknowledge the challenges. He said he wants to assure parents that the school board is committed to do whatever it takes.
Along with Richmond, other schools in Central Virginia are listed as priority schools. Including two in Petersburg, one in Hopewell and one in Henrico.
