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The Virginia Board of Education is honoring ten public school divisions and 102 schools for raising the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students. The awards are based on student achievement on state assessments during 2008-2009 and the previous school year.

 

All six of the York County Title I schools were recognized as “Title I Distinguished Schools” for maintaining full state accreditation under the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, meeting federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and having average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher.

 

“When provided effective and focused instruction, all children — regardless of economic status — can achieve academic success, and these results confirm that,” said Board of Education President Eleanor B. Saslaw. "The results of the hard work of thousands of students, teachers, principals and other educators are seen in the increased achievement of students in the honored schools and divisions," Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said.

 

Each school and division will receive a certificate celebrating its status and achievement. The recognized schools of the York County School Division are as follows: Bethel Manor Elementary, Dare Elementary, Grafton Bethel Elementary, Magruder Elementary, Tabb Elementary and Waller Mill Elementary.

 

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk of academic failure. The federal education law requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics. During 2008-2009, 520, or 72 percent, of Virginia’s 722 Title I schools met all federal objectives.