All Historic Triangle Schools Fully Accredited

By Amber Lester Thursday, September 16, 2010

All public schools in the Historic Triangle are fully accredited, according to an announcement from the Virginia Department of Education on Wednesday.

York County and Williamsburg-James City County schools are fully accredited and meeting current state standards for achievement in English, math, history and science based on the results of the 2009-2010 Standards of Learning (SOL) exams.

Across the state, 98 percent of schools are fully accredited, including 17 new schools. WJCC opened two new schools this fall – J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School and Lois Hornsby Middle School. New schools are automatically rated as conditionally accredited for 2010-2011.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright credited the success of most of Virginia’s schools to the efforts of teachers and administrators who did what many thought impossible.

“Because of the extraordinary and sustained efforts of thousands of Virginia teachers, principals and other educators, almost all of our schools have achieved a goal that many thought was unrealistic when Standards of Learning (SOL) testing began in 1998,” she said in a press release. “I encourage all of our teachers, administrators and other educators to keep this success in mind this year as they provide the instruction and guidance students will need to meet even more rigorous expectations for achievement in English, mathematics and history, as well as new accreditation provisions related to graduation.”

This was the second year in a row that 98 percent of Virginia’s public schools were fully accredited. Out of the state’s 1,850 schools, 1,815 are fully accredited for the 2010-2011 school year.