By Kristina Schnack Kotlus
Schools and Education Reporter
Stafford County, Va. –– Stafford County Public Schools has received its preliminary 2011-2012 Adequate Yearly Progress results. The AYP is determined by Standard of Learning test scores, but are a function of the No Child Left Behind Act. Scores will continue to be finalized by the Virginia Department of Education over the coming weeks.
Based on their SOL results, all 30 Stafford County Schools are accredited for the 2011-2012 school year. Eleven Stafford Schools made Adequate Yearly Progress. However, a staggering 19 schools did not make their AYP goals. Mountain View, Stafford, and Brooke Point High Schools, T. Benton Gayle, Shirley Heim, A. G. Wright, H.H. Poole, Stafford, Rodney Thompson, Drew, and Dixon-Smith Middle Schools, Anthony Burns, Hartwood, Rocky Run, Conway, Kate Waller Barrett, Widewater, Moncure, and Margaret Brent Elementary Schools did not meet their goals. Stafford schools noted that there are 29 AYP Benchmarks and four of the 19 schools not making AYP missed by one benchmark with an additional seven schools that missed making AYP by two benchmarks.
Overall, Stafford County Public Schools as a whole did not meet AYP.
“We believe that we are providing the necessary supports and resources for improving student performance by emphasizing data analysis to know where our strengths and weaknesses are in our educational program while providing the necessary professional learning so that the quality of instruction meets the needs of every child in Stafford County,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Dr. Chris Quinn.
For some schools, not making AYP has additional implications under No Child Left Behind, which requires sanctions be imposed on schools that receive certain federal funds and do not make AYP for two or more consecutive years in the same content area. Because of this, Widewater, Rocky Run and Falmouth Elementary Schools will be offering school choice to parents for the 2011-2012 school year.
Affected families should receive notice via a letter from the school district.
