Today, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released pass rates from the 2020-2021 SOL tests, the first state assessments administered in two years. Even under the extraordinary circumstances of the past school year, students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) tested better than many local school divisions and bested the statewide average.

"These numbers are confirming what we already knew," said Superintendent Aaron Spence. "That, while students do better when they are with us in our buildings, our teachers, staff, students and families navigated the ever-changing landscape of a global pandemic and still remained engaged and committed to their education and well-being during the last school year."

VBCPS and Virginia Reporting Groups - By Subject
2020-2021 SOL Testing Pass Rates

Math
VBCPS 69%
Statewide 54%

Reading
VBCPS 78%
Statewide 69%

Science
VBCPS 69%
Statewide 59%

"Given all that we dealt with last year, we know it's important not to compare these results to previous years. However, there is much we can learn here," added Spence. "Do these results tell us there is unfinished learning? Absolutely-and this must and will be addressed in the new school year. But the last 18 months have been unlike any other time in the history of education, and I am beyond proud of our families and staff for this achievement."

Participation in SOL 2020-21 testing varied widely from division to division based on whether students received instruction face-to-face or virtually, and on whether families chose to send their children to secure school settings for SOL testing.

"What matters now is where we go from here, and we will use the data from the SOL's to identify the unique needs of every learner as our schools resume in-person instruction for all students," Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said in a VDOE press release.

In Virginia, SOL testing in 2019-2020 was canceled. While the VDOE has reported the results of the 2020-2021 SOL tests, accreditation ratings for the 2021-2022 school year will not be calculated. All schools will have the rating "Accreditation Waived," as during 2020-2021. Before that year, VBCPS had earned 100% accreditation for three consecutive years.

More information about pass and participation rates are posted on the VDOE website and on School Quality Profiles.

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Department of Communications and Community Engagement, [email protected]

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