The Shadow
RICHMOND — Millboro Elementary School in Bath County and James River High School in Botetourt County have been named to the Virginia Board of Education’s Distinguished Achievement Award list.
The list recognizes school divisions and schools that have met all state and federal benchmarks and made progress toward the goals of the governor and the board of education.
One hundred-seventy five schools were named to the list, which was released Wednesday by Gov. Ralph Northam.
“As a former teacher, I know how important it is to commend extra effort and improved performance,” said Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. “I believe the same is true for schools and school divisions and I look forward to personally congratulating many of these schools and divisions during my travels around the commonwealth.”
Northam also announced that 270 schools and nine school divisions earned 2019 Virginia Index of Performance awards for advanced student learning and achievement.
The VIP program recognizes schools and school divisions that exceed state and federal accountability standards and achieve excellence goals established by the governor and the board of education.
No local schools were included on the VIP list.
The Virginia Index of Performance program was established by the state board of education in 2007 as a means of recognizing schools and school divisions that exceed state and federal accountability standards.
In April 2018, the board approved criteria for a new exemplar school recognition program to replace the VIP awards.
The new program will include awards for high achievement, continuous improvement and innovative practices.
“I am excited about the new exemplar schools program because it will highlight the great work taking place in schools that may have not been recognized under the VIP program,” Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane Lane said. “These include schools where students are making great progress toward meeting state standards and schools that are narrowing achievement gaps and reducing chronic absenteeism.”
The first awards under the new exemplar school system will be announced this summer.
