Prince William County schools fare well against state targets for SOL tests

According to a news release issued today, Aug. 20, 2013, the Standards of Learning (SOL) and associated tests in mathematics, science and reading are more demanding than ever, but new results from the Virginia Department of Education show the collective Princew William County Schools (PWCS) student body is meeting or exceeding state pass rates on almost all tests.

Results reflect all students’ performance on SOL assessments administered during the 2012–13 school year. Analysis by student sub-groups will come later and be used in determining whether the Division and specific schools meet the Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) identified by the state in their federal accountability system.

For now, the all-student SOL results show:

Reading
PWCS had a higher pass rate and pass advanced rate than the state on all elementary school level reading tests (grades 3, 4, and 5).
The PWCS pass rate exceeded the state pass rate on all middle school level reading tests (grades 6, 7, 8).
The PWCS pass advanced rate either met or exceeded the state pass advanced rate on the grade 6 and 7 reading tests.
The PWCS pass advanced rate exceeded the state pass advanced rate on the end-of-course reading test.
Writing
The PWCS pass rate either met or exceeded the state’s pass rate on all grade level (grades 5 and 8) and end-of-course writing tests.
Science

The PWCS pass rate and pass advanced rate exceeded the respective VA rates on all grade level science tests (grades 3, 5, and 8).
The PWCS pass rate either met or exceeded the state pass rate on the Biology and Chemistry end-of-course tests.  The PWCS pass rate on the Earth Science end-of-course test was only slightly below (1%) the state’s pass rate.
Social Studies
The PWCS pass rates exceeded the VA pass rates on all grade level and end-of-course social studies tests, except US History I, for which the PWCS pass rate was 1% below the state level.
The PWCS pass advanced rate exceeded the state pass advanced rate on the grade 3 history test, the VA Studies test, the US History II test, the World History I test, and the World Geography test.
Math
PWCS had higher pass rates than the state on all elementary level math tests (grades 3, 4, 5); the PWCS pass advanced rate was substantially above the VA rate in grades 4 and 5. 
PWCS had higher pass rates and pass advanced rates than the state on the grade 6 and 8 math tests.
The PWCS pass rate on the Algebra I end-of course test matched the VA pass rate.
PWCS met or exceeded the state’s pass advanced rate on all end-of-course math tests, which include Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.
New AMO pass rate targets have been implemented in recent years in conjunction with the deployment of more rigorous math, science and reading SOLs. “Virginia students are more challenged by this work and, in the long run, they are learning more,” said PWCS Superintendent Steven Walts. “There are still challenges to be met, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

We are now in the second year of using the new tests based on the updated mathematics SOLs, allowing a year to year comparison. Among PWCS schools:
All 11 high schools showed an increase in pass rate on at least one math assessment.

Including traditional schools, 17 middle schools showed an increase in pass rate on at least one math assessment.

Including traditional schools, 58 elementary schools showed an increase in pass rate on at least one math assessment. 
“We’ll be taking a hard look at the results to help maintain the momentum where performance is improving and to make an extra effort where students need more help,” added Walts.

Virginia school report cards issued in September will take a closer look at how schools rate in affecting the performance of specific sub-groups.