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YCSD SOL Pass Rates

The Virginia Department of Education released the 2018-19 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) pass rates today. The results indicate students in the York County School Division continue to exceed state averages in the five content areas tested.

“We are proud of the successes our students and teachers achieve year after year, said Dr. Stephanie Guy, chief academic officer. “Most notably gains made division-wide in math, both overall and within each student subgroup, demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement.”

The division experienced gains in mathematics and science, exceeding the state averages in those areas by 10 and 9 percentage points respectively. The growth in mathematics can be attributed to several factors - the development of a K-12 math model aligned to the revised state standards, an investment in manipulatives for grades K-8, and the addition of two math coaches who provided ongoing support and training. These actions support our teachers’ commitment to providing all students with opportunities to engage in problem solving and mathematically-rich tasks.

While overall reading and writing scores experienced a slight dip from the previous year, several student subgroups did show growth at the elementary level. Third grade reading scores for black students improved by 10 percentage points while English Learners pass rates grew by four percentage points in grade 3. Additionally, in grade 5, students with disabilities saw an overall improvement of 13 percentage points and exceeded the state pass rate by more than 25 percentage points.

“We are excited to see progress in student subgroups but we also recognize the importance of growth for all students,” stated Guy. “In recent years, we have provided extensive professional development and resources to our schools that have had a direct and positive impact on daily instruction.”

Division staff will collaborate with school administrators and teachers to analyze these results and identify next steps. A comprehensive report on SOLs results and accreditation status will be provided to the School Board during the September work session.