Area Schools Honored

Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Virginia Department of Education this morning released a list of local schools that earned the 2012 Board of Education Excellence and Competence to Excellence awards.

The 2012 Board of Education Excellence Award is given to school divisions and schools that have met all state and federal accountability benchmarks for at least two consecutive years. In addition, schools on the list have made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunities set by the Virginia Board of Education.

Two Alleghany County schools – Falling Spring Elementary and Sharon Elementary – are the only local schools receiving the award.

Callaghan Elementary in Alleghany County will receive the 2012 Board of Education Competence to Excellence Award.

That award is given to schools that met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and made progress toward goals set by the governor and the board of education.

No local schools received the top honor under the Virginia Index of Performance Awards. The Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence is given to schools that meet all benchmarks for two consecutive years and achieve applicable excellence goals in several areas, including elementary reading and high school graduation.

The Board of Education Excellence and Competence to Excellence awards represent the second and third tiers of the Virginia Index of Performance Awards. The state uses the awards program as in incentive for schools and school divisions to exceed minimum federal and state standards in education.