55 Virginia Title 1 schools were recently awarded with a certificate by The Virginia Board of Educations for raising academic achievement for economically disadvantaged students.
The awards are based 2013-2014, 2014-2015 SOL scores.
Nine schools, including West Point High School, were named as Title 1 Highly Distinguished Schools for exceeding all state and federal accountability benchmarks for two consecutive years and achieving pass rates on reading and math SOL tests at or above the 85th percentile.
Forty-six schools additional schools were recognized as Title I Distinguished Schools for meeting all state and federal accountability requirements for two consecutive years and achieving SOL pass rates at the 60th percentile or higher for reading and mathematics.
West Point Public Schools – for a fourth consecutive year – was recognized as a Highly Distinguished Title I School Division.
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Steven R. Staples stated that “their success provides a model for others and a way forward as we seek to narrow and ultimately close the achievement gap.”
Title I schools, which have a large percentage of children eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, are provided federal financial assistance to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. These funds are currently allocated through four statutory formulas that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state.
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