Three additional public schools are likely to be accredited according to preliminary results of last year’s Standards of Learning scores. Those schools are John Adams Elementary School, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology and T. C. Williams High School.
Alexandria included the scores of the Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center, T. C. Williams High School and the Secondary Training and Education Center in the high school’s scores. Scores at Patrick Henry Elementary School, James K. Polk Elementary and the Mt. Vernon Community School are too close to estimate and are waiting for formal state results to determine whether they will be accredited or not. George Washington Middle School appears to not have retained its full accreditation.
“From our standpoint, and the Virginia Department of Education’s view, state accreditation continues to be the indicator of school quality,” said Superintendent Rebecca L. Perry. “Our teachers, administrators, and students are working extraordinarily hard to reach these goals. We have seen the results of their work, especially in dramatic gains in courses such as high school reading and high school history.”
Division-wide, the greatest gains made from 2002 to 2003 were in grade eight mathematics, from 68 to 78 percent of students passing; end of course reading from 74 to 92 percent of students passing; end of course Virginia and U. S. history, from 61 to 75 percent passing; end of course writing, from 78 to 88 percent passing and end of course chemistry from 80 to 90 percent passing.
THOSE SCHOOLS that appear to have remained fully accredited are Charles Barrett Elementary School, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, George Mason Elementary School, William Ramsay Elementary School, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School.
“We are, of course, very pleased at the gains our students have made in SOL scores,” said T. C. Williams Principal John Porter. “We will continue to work hard to ensure that these gains continue.”
School districts throughout the state will receive official notification of accreditation from the state’s department of education in October.