FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GOOCHLAND, VA – AUGUST 23, 2018
Contact: Mr. Andrew R. Armstrong, Executive Director of Business Operations
aarmstrong@glnd.k12.va.us | (804) 556 5605 | @glndschools www.goochlandschools.org
Goochland County Public Schools State Testing Results Project Full State Accreditation in 100% of its Schools Under Revised Standards
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released official results of 2018 state testing yesterday, and Goochland continues to shine. Virginia public schools administer 29 state assessments each year based on the Commonwealth’s Standards of Learning (SOL). The results of these assessments are now considered in conjunction with additional criteria to determine the accreditation status of Virginia schools. Beginning with the ratings for 2018-2019, to be announced on September 27, schools under the new accountability system will be scored on multiple school quality indicators as performing at one of three levels: Level One (at or above standard), Level Two (near standard or improving) or Level Three (below standard). Schools will also be evaluated on progress in closing achievement gaps in English and mathematics, raising overall achievement in science and reducing chronic absenteeism. High schools will be evaluated on their success in raising graduation rates and reducing dropout rates. These revisions are designed to provide a more comprehensive view of school quality, place increased on emphasis on closing achievement gaps and encourage continuous improvement for all schools.
“The revised accreditation system is a significant improvement and will provide a more holistic evaluation of school quality,” said Dr. James Lane, former Goochland superintendent and current Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction. “It includes multiple factors to comprehensively evaluate Virginia’s schools, requires continuous improvement for every school, shines a light on the needs of all students and ensures tailored and effective support for schools needing assistance. Our ultimate goal is for every Virginia student to attend a school that maximizes their potential.”
Score data indicates that GCPS continues to shine both in the region and in the Commonwealth, with Goochland’s pass rates outpacing state averages by a comfortable margin:
| State Test | Virginia | Goochland |
| Reading | 79% | 85% |
| Math | 77% | 85% |
| Science | 81% | 86% |
| History | 84% | 92% |
Goochland remains one of just a handful of school divisions in Virginia to have all of its schools meet full accreditation standards each of the last eleven years. Despite the school division’s exceptionally strong overall results, team members remain committed to elevating expectations and implementing innovative programming for all students. “While we certainly have a lot to celebrate, we face the same challenges that most school divisions across the state and nation face when it comes to achievement gaps for our students with disabilities and our African American students,” said Dr. Jeremy Raley, Superintendent. “We have made some great progress in these areas, especially recently, but we have more work to do. We are committed to closing these gaps, while continuing to raise the bar for every student.”
The school division plans to present its annual comprehensive data report to the School Board at its September public meeting.