On August 18th, the Virginia Department of Education released the latest Standards of
Learning (SOL) scores for all public schools across the Commonwealth. Jason Wood, Division Superintendent for Patrick County stated, “even though the press release paints a dreary picture for much of the state, Patrick County Public School’s return to pre-pandemic scores is a shining example for the rest of the state as Patrick County is ranked 7th in the commonwealth.” Wood added, “I am so thankful for all our employees and so proud of our students and families. When many businesses and even some schools were not open, our staff worked even harder to provide in-person instruction to our students and this dedication has paid off.”
Patrick County’s pass rates exceeded the average state pass rates in all subject areas:
English: PCPS – 85 State – 73 (+12 points above state average)
Writing: PCPS – 72 State – 65 (+7 points above state average)
Math: PCPS – 82 State – 66 (+16 points above state average)
Science: PCPS – 78 State – 65 (+13 points above state average)
History: PCPS – 79 State – 66 (+13 points above state average)
Next month, when the state accreditation process factors in student growth from fall 2021 to spring 2022, PCPS expects to see an even greater reason for celebration. Shannon Brown, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, who is also in charge of state testing for PCPS stated, “these pass rates do not include adjusted scores for students who demonstrated growth in reading and math. These outstanding scores will only improve when growth is calculated next month for state accreditation.”
Andrea Cassell, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction stated “Patrick County Public School’s SOL performance reflects the continuous hard work and dedication of our entire school family. Even during a pandemic that caused a multitude of challenges, our hard-working staff went above and beyond in providing in-person learning and meeting the needs of our students under extremely difficult conditions.”
When asked about the current school year, Andrea Cassell added, “our focus continues to be on accelerating learning in all of our schools. Patrick County Public Schools continues to analyze specific student data to improve and provide the resources schools and students need. Our teachers and staff are driven and ready to ensure all of our students have the resources and support they need to truly thrive.
Jason Wood added “not only will Patrick County Public Schools continue to provide high-quality instruction for our students, but PCPS is also dedicated to meeting all of the needs of our students and families. We have outstanding educators, counselors, nurses, administrators, custodians, food service staff, transportation staff, and maintenance staff to ensure we provide the best care and support for all our students. We are truly blessed to have an amazing school division filled with dedicated employees and great students.”