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."
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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
- Marguerite Christian Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Ettrick Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Salem Church Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Falling Creek Middle (accredited with warning)
- 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
- Mehfoud Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Brookland Middle (accredited with warning)
- Cashell Donahoe Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Charles Johnson Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Elko Middle (accredited with warning)
- Fair Oaks Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Fairfield Middle (accredited with warning)
- Glen Lea Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Ratcliffe Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Harvie Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Highland Springs High (accredited with warning)
- John Rolfe Middle (accredited with warning)
- L. Douglas Wilder Middle School (accredited with warning)
- Montrose Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Sandston Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Varina Elementary (accredited with warning)
- Varina High (accredited with warning)
Richmond
- Armstrong High School (accredited with warning)
- Fred D. Thompson Middle School (accredited with warning)
- George Wythe High School (accredited with warning)
- John Marshall High School (accredited with warning)
- 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:
- Charlottesville
- Clarke County
- Colonial Heights
- Falls Church
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Fredericksburg
- Giles County
- Goochland County
- Hanover County
- King George County
- King William County
- Lexington
- Mathews County
- Middlesex County
- Nelson County
- New Kent County
- Northumberland County
- Norton
- Orange County
- Page County
- Patrick County
- Poquoson
- Powhatan County
- Prince George County
- Richmond County
- Roanoke County
- Rockingham County
- Salem
- Shenandoah County
- Stafford County
- Surry County
- Warren County
- West Point
- Williamsburg-James City County
- Wise County
