Ninety-three percent of Virginia’s 1,836 public schools are fully accredited and meeting all state standards for achievement in English, mathematics, history and science — and graduation, in the case of high schools — the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced today.
Ninety-six percent of Virginia’s elementary schools and 88 percent of middle schools are fully accredited for the 2012-2013 school year, based on the performance of students on Standards of Learning (SOL) and other state assessments during 2011-2012.
The percentage of fully accredited high schools rose to 90 percent, compared with 86 percent last year when the Board of Education began including a “graduation and completion index” into the accountability formula for high schools, in addition to student achievement on state tests.
The graduation and completion index system awards full credit for students who earn a board-recognized diploma and partial credit for students who earn GEDs and local credentials, as well as for students who are still enrolled and expected to return for a fifth year of high school.
High schools must have a graduation and completion index of at least 85 for full accreditation.
The percentage of schools earning full accreditation for 2012-2013 is three points lower than the percentage that earned the highest rating for 2011-2012.
