Newsroom

YCSDigest - September 11, 2025

Annual State Assessment Results

At the September School Board work session, Dr. Candi Skinner, chief academic officer, shared information regarding student outcomes on annual Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments given during the 2024-25 school year. Virginia introduced more rigorous SOLs last year, creating a new baseline for growth.

Overall, YCSD students performed above state averages across reading, writing, math, history, and science. Focus areas include grade 3-4 reading and middle school math, along with targeted supports for students receiving special education and English learner services.

The entire presentation can be viewed on the division's YouTube channel, and additional information also available on the division website.

School Name Change Survey

Dr. Jim Carroll, chief operations officer, provided the board with results from a survey conducted this summer regarding a request to change the name of Magruder Elementary School. Feedback reflected a wide range of perspectives. Some community members emphasized the historical context of the school’s current name, values of inclusion, and positive role models as reasons to support a change. Others expressed concerns about cost, preserving history, and maintaining community ties to the school.

Review the Survey Presentation

Access the Full Survey Results

Apply for Free School Meals

YCSD is currently accepting Free and Reduced Meal Applications for the 2025-26 school year. Families who were eligible during the 2024-25 school year, in YCSD or another school system, must submit a new application by Wednesday, October 8. The division accepts both paper and online applications.

We encourage all families to complete the form even if you’re not sure whether you qualify for free meals. It may qualify your family for additional benefits, like discounted exam fees and college applications, extracurriculars, scholarship opportunities, and even home Wi-Fi. Filling out the form can also help your child’s school receive additional classroom resources which support all students’ education.

Online Meals Application

Printable Meals Application

SNAP Benefits Information

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

We are pleased to announce that four students have been selected as 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, one of the highest academic honors a high school student can earn. YCSD semifinalists are:

• Arushi Raizada, Tabb High
• Megan Way, Tabb High
• Eddie Zhu, Tabb High
• Marcus Mason, Grafton High

Each year more than one million high school juniors enter the National Merit Scholarship programs by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Scholarship Program (PSAT/NMSQT). Of those, approximately 16,000 students are named semifinalists during their senior year (less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors).

Semifinalists earn the opportunity to compete for thousands of National Merit Scholarships that together are worth nearly $26 million. Scholarships will be awarded in the spring.

Community Announcements

The York County School Division offers local organizations the opportunity to share information with students and families regarding educational/enrichment activities, events and opportunities, which are either 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 made available as a community service for our families.

Community announcements can also be found on the division website and each school's website.