Our Progress

The five-year completion rate for VBCPS has seen a steady increase over the past few years, rising from 91.6 percent in 2008, to 95 percent in 2013.

Furthermore, the four-year on-time graduation rate for VBCPS has also increased, rising from 84.2 percent in school year 2007-2008, to 88.5 percent in school year 2013-2014.

Our Strategic Goal

By 2015, 95 percent or more of VBCPS students will graduate having mastered the skills they need to succeed as 21st century learners, workers and citizens.

The Measure of Compass to 2015

Understanding that there are students who need longer than the traditional four years to attain their graduation credits, VBCPS has determined that measuring goal attainment for Compass to 2015 will be focused on the percentage of a given class who completed a credential within five years. This measure:

• Uses the Cohort Completion Rate published by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE);
• Includes all diploma types, GEDs and Certificates of Completion;
• Allows students five years, rather than four, to complete the credential.

VBCPS will consider students' graduation or completion of a credential as evidence that they have mastered the skills needed to succeed as 21st Century learners, workers and citizens as a result of the curriculum design and opportunities provided throughout their educational career in the school division.

Impact of Continuous Enrollment

Recognizing that student mobility into and out of a school division may have an impact on completion and graduation rates, VBCPS conducted a study of the Class of 2010 cohort and determined:

• Only 49 percent of the Class of 2010 was continuously enrolled in VBCPS from third grade until the completion of a credential;
• And 62 percent of the Class of 2010 was continuously enrolled in VBCPS from sixth grade through completion.

The chart below demonstrates the impact of continuous enrollment on the four- and five-year completion rates for the Class of 2010. Both the completion and graduation rates for students enrolled in VBCPS since third and sixth grades were higher than the rates for students who were not. In fact, the lowest completion and graduation rates were found for students who had not been continuously enrolled in VBCPS since sixth grade.

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