VA Students Again Meet or Exceed All NCLB Objectives

7 of 10 Schools also Meet Higher Benchmarks for Achievement in Reading & Mathematics

Virginia and 71 percent of the commonwealth’s public schools met or exceeded all No Child Left Behind (NCLB) objectives based on statewide testing during the 2008-2009 school year as student achievement increased in reading, mathematics and other subjects.

It was the second consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five years that the commonwealth made what the federal law describes as “adequate yearly progress,” or AYP, toward 100-percent proficiency for all students in reading and mathematics, the two subjects that are the primary focus of the federal law.

The commonwealth and seven of ten schools made AYP despite four-point higher benchmarks in both reading and mathematics.

Other Subercts:


History/Social Science Achievement Increases

Eighty-nine percent of Virginia students taking tests in history and social science passed compared with 88 percent last year.

Achievement of black students increased two points to 81 percent.
Hispanic achievement in history increased three points to 82 percent.
Achievement of white students improved one point to 93 percent.
LEP students increased their pass rate three points to 80 percent.
Achievement of economically disadvantaged students increased three points to 80 percent.
Achievement of students with disabilities increased two points to 72 percent.


Science Achievement Steady

Eighty-nine percent of students passed tests in science, a one-point gain from the previous year.

Black achievement in science increased one point to 80 percent.
Achievement of Hispanic students increased two points to 80 percent.
Ninety-four percent of white students passed — the same percentage as last year.
Achievement of LEP students increased two points to 76 percent.
Economically disadvantaged students increased their pass rate by one point to 79 percent.
Achievement of students with disabilities was unchanged at 69 percent.




Writing Achievement Remains High

Students achieved an overall pass rate in writing of 89 percent, which was unchanged from the previous year.

Writing achievement of black students increased one point to 83 percent.
Achievement of Hispanic students was unchanged at 83 percent.
Performance of white students was unchanged at 92 percent.
Achievement of LEP students was unchanged at 78 percent.
Achievement of economically disadvantaged students increased one point to 80 percent.
Sixty-one percent of students with disabilities passed, which is the same percentage as the previous year.