Newsroom

YCSDigest - December 11, 2024

Posted On: 12/11/2024

No Cell, Bell-to-Bell Policy Adopted

The School Board has adopted the division's Cell Phone Free Education policy, which requires students to have personal devices turned off and stored away, from bell-to-bell, to promote a focused learning environment. As a reminder, this policy will take effect for all schools on Monday, January 6, 2025, as students and staff return from Winter Break.

To support this initiative, we ask families to:

Limit non-urgent communications to before or after school hours.
Contact the school's main office for urgent matters during the school day.

We encourage families to save the school's main number as a contact to easily recognize calls from school staff and/or their child(ren). School caller ID phone numbers are listed on the division website, along with specific cell phone policy guidelines for each school level, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Cell Phone Policy

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

The York County School Division continues to excel in statewide rankings of public elementary and middle schools. The U.S. News & World Report, a global authority in education rankings, once again recognized all 14 YCSD elementary and middle schools as being in the top 15% of public schools in Virginia.

According to the 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools report, four schools achieved spots in the top 20 overall. Among more than 600 public middle schools in Virginia, Tabb Middle ranks #10, and Grafton Middle holds the #16 position. At the elementary level, Mt. Vernon Elementary is ranked as the 13th best school out of more than 1,200 public elementary schools, with Dare Elementary close behind at #15.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on state assessment, measuring students who were proficient or above proficient in mathematics and reading/language arts.

Competitive Grant Awards

Division staff identify and work to secure grant funding each year to support the mission of ensuring every student is valued, supported, and challenged through learning experiences, which prepare them for a successful future. In the last few weeks, the division has been awarded nearly $250,000 in competitive grants aligned with the division’s priorities and core values.

School Security Grants: $160,000
These funds will be used for school security equipment at Bruton High School to support the division's core value of providing safe, secure, and caring environments that support the whole child.
Instructional Grants: $74,599
These funds, aligned with our Highly Effective Talent and Future Ready Graduate priorities, will be used to enhance computer science instruction in elementary schools through professional development and engaging educational experiences which activate students' curiosity and critical thinking skills.

Community Announcements

The York County School Division offers local businesses and organizations the opportunity to share information with students and families regarding educational/enrichment activities, events and opportunities, which are available to YCSD students or support division programs. These flyers are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the York County School Division or the schools but are provided as a community service for our families.