Richmond Public Schools SOL scores decline overall, show improvement in certain subject areas

The Virginia Department of Education released today the 2016-2017 Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment scores for school divisions across the state this week, and Richmond Public Schools showed a mixed bag of results for the past school year.

According to preliminary data, RPS experienced a slight decline in scores for all content areas, but a significant eight-point increase in scores for Writing. Students also achieved a 12-point increase in World History I, and grade 6 Mathematics increased by 6 points.

“While these results are not at the desired level that we hoped to achieve or that our students deserve, there are some pockets of positive movement that we will continue to build upon,” said Interim Superintendent Thomas Kranz.

Additionally, 31 Richmond Public Schools increased points in one or more subject areas and 16 of those schools made double-digit gains in one or more subject areas:

• Blackwell Elementary School achieved a 31-point increase in Science
• J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School achieved a 28-point increase in History & Social Studies, a 24-point increase in Reading, and a 22-point increase in Mathematics
• John Marshall High School achieved a 22-point increase in Writing and a 13-point increase in History & Social Studies
• Patrick Henry School of Science achieved a 25-point increase in History & Social Studies
• Ginter Park Elementary School achieved a 21-point increase in History & Social Studies
• Binford Middle School achieved a 19-point increase in Writing
• Boushall Middle School achieved a 16-point increase in Writing
• Brown Middle School achieved a 15-point increase in Writing
• Redd Elementary School achieved a 14-point increase in Reading, an 11-point increase in Science, and a 10-point gain in Mathematics
• Franklin Military Academy achieved a 14-point increase in Writing
• Henderson Middle School achieved an 11-point increase in History & Social Studies
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School achieved an 11-point increase Writing
• Albert Hill Middle School achieved an 11-point increase in Mathematics
• Fairfield Court Elementary School achieved a 10-point increase in Science

“Our focus remains on aligning our efforts with best practices that are strategically designed for curriculum based instruction that include root-cause analysis at the school level, intense training for our principals and teachers, and collaborative support and training from the VDOE through our Memorandum of Understanding,” Kranz added. “I have confidence in our leaders and teachers that we will work together to ensure that we are providing the best academic opportunities for each and every one of our students each and every day.”