RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell and the Board of Education announced today that 151 schools and one school division earned 2013 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) awards for advanced learning and achievement. The VIP incentive program recognizes schools and divisions that exceed minimum state and federal accountability standards and achieve excellence goals established by the governor and the board.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Excellence doesn’t just happen; it is achieved through hard work and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. I congratulate the students for the accomplishments these awards recognize and the outstanding teachers and other educators who prepared them to excel. We are blessed to have some of the finest schools and teachers in the nation. We must continue to ensure that all students have access to the high quality education they deserve.”
“I want to congratulate the 2013 VIP schools on a job well done. Virginia’s education system is among the best in the country, and each of these schools is setting the standard we should expect for every school in the Commonwealth. Without hardworking educators in the classroom, these success stories wouldn’t be possible,” said Secretary of Education Laura Fornash
The schools and school divisions earning 2013 VIP awards, which are based on student achievement and other performance indicators during 2011-2012, include:
- Two schools that earned the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence;
- 51 schools and one school division that earned the Board of Education Excellence Award; and
- 98 schools that earned the Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award.
“Accreditation is just the starting line for these schools and divisions,” Board of Education President David M. Foster said. “Their success is especially worth celebrating given the rigorous college- and career-ready standards that we now expect students to meet.”
“The criteria for VIP awards are designed to recognize excellence and to provide incentives for school divisions and schools to expand academic opportunities for all students and to adopt best practices that result in engaging, safe and healthy learning environments,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said.
2013 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence
Two schools – Rocky Run Middle in Fairfax County and Kemps Landing Magnet in Virginia Beach – earned the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, the highest VIP award. Both schools will receive a display banner and a signed resolution of commendation from Governor McDonnell. No school divisions qualified for a Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence.
To qualify for the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, schools and school divisions must meet all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and achieve all applicable excellence goals for elementary reading, enrollment in Algebra I by the eighth grade, enrollment in college-level courses, high school graduation, attainment of advanced diplomas, increased attainment of career and industry certifications, and participation in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Schools and school divisions earn bonus points for other performance measures, including the Governor’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard.
2013 Board of Education Excellence Awards
Fifty-one schools earned the Board of Education Excellence Award, the second-tier honor in the VIP program. These schools also met all state and federal accountability benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunities set by the board.
The schools receiving Board of Education Excellence Awards are as follows:
- Albemarle County – Virginia L. Murray Elementary
- Arlington County – Arlington Science Focus School, Arlington Traditional, Ashlawn Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Nottingham Elementary and Taylor Elementary
- Charlottesville – Greenbrier Elementary
- Chesterfield County – Bettie Weaver Elementary, Robious Elementary, Winterpock Elementary and Woolridge Elementary
- Fairfax County – Archer Elementary, Canterbury Woods Elementary, Chesterbrook Elementary, Colvin Run Elementary, Cooper Middle, Floris Elementary, Great Falls Elementary, Greenbriar West Elementary, Haycock Elementary, Hunt Valley Elementary, Longfellow Middle, McNair Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Spring Hill Elementary, Thoreau Middle, West Springfield Elementary, Westbriar Elementary and Wolftrap Elementary
- Hampton – Francis Asbury Elementary
- Hanover County – Pearson’s Corner Elementary and Pole Green Elementary
- Henrico County – Echo Lake Elementary, Glen Allen Elementary, Nuckols Farm Elementary, Rivers Edge Elementary, Shady Grove Elementary and Twin Hickory Elementary
- Loudoun County – Lincoln Elementary and Pinebrook Elementary
- Montgomery County – Gilbert Linkous Elementary
- Prince William County – Mary G. Porter Traditional and Mountain View Elementary
- Pulaski County – Snowville Elementary
- Roanoke – Crystal Spring Elementary
- Roanoke County – Bonsack Elementary, Cave Spring Middle and Oak Grove Elementary
- Virginia Beach – Old Donation Center
- Williamsburg-James City County – Matoaka Elementary
2013 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Awards
The Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award was earned by one division – West Point – and 98 schools that met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and made progress toward the goals of the governor and the board.
The schools receiving Distinguished Achievement awards are as follows:
- Albemarle County – Hollymead Elementary, Meriwether Lewis Elementary and Mortimer Y. Sutherland Middle
- Amherst County – Temperance Elementary
- Arlington County – Henry Elementary and Jamestown Elementary
- Carroll County – Fancy Gap Elementary
- Charlotte County – Eureka Elementary
- Charlottesville – Venable Elementary
- Chesterfield County – Elizabeth Scott Elementary, Enon Elementary, Grange Hall Elementary and W.W. Gordon Elementary
- Danville – Forest Hills Elementary
- Fairfax County – Camelot Elementary, Forest Edge Elementary, Fox Mill Elementary, Franklin Middle, Frost Middle, Kent Gardens Elementary, Kings Glen Elementary, Mantua Elementary, Oakton Elementary, Olde Creek Elementary, Sherman Elementary, Springfield Estates Elementary, Stratford Landing Elementary, Sunrise Valley Elementary, Vienna Elementary, Westgate Elementary and Willow Springs Elementary
- Falls Church – Mount Daniel School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary
- Franklin County – Boones Mill Elementary, Burnt Chimney Elementary, Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career Exploration and Snow Creek Elementary
- Gloucester County – Achilles Elementary
- Hampton – Armstrong Elementary
- Hanover County – Cool Spring Elementary, Kersey Creek Elementary, South Anna Elementary and Washington-Henry Elementary
- Henrico County – Arthur Ashe Jr. Elementary, Colonial Trail Elementary, Gayton Elementary, Jackson Davis Elementary, Pemberton Elementary, Short Pump Elementary, Springfield Park Elementary, Three Chopt Elementary and Tuckahoe Elementary
- Henry County – Rich Acres Elementary
- Isle of Wight County – Carrsville Elementary
- Loudoun County – Aldie Elementary, Ashburn Elementary, Belmont Station Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Lowes Island Elementary and Round Hill Elementary
- Montgomery County – Auburn Elementary and Harding Avenue Elementary
- Norfolk – Larchmont Elementary
- Prince George County – L.L. Beazley Elementary
- Prince William County – A. Henderson Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Elementary and Westridge Elementary
- Richmond – Broad Rock Elementary
- Roanoke – Fishburn Park Elementary, Grandin Court Elementary and Wasena Elementary
- Roanoke County – Back Creek Elementary, Cave Spring Elementary, Clearbrook Elementary, Fort Lewis Elementary, Glenvar Middle, Green Valley Elementary, Penn Forest Elementary and W.E. Cundiff Elementary
- Rockingham County – Peak View Elementary and South River Elementary
- Russell County – Cleveland Elementary
- Scott County – Weber City Elementary
- Spotsylvania County – Chancellor Elementary
- Stafford County – Garrisonville Elementary
- Suffolk – Northern Shores Elementary
- Tazewell County – Abb’s Valley-Boissevain Elementary
- Virginia Beach – John B. Dey Elementary, Kingston Elementary and Red Mill Elementary
- Waynesboro – Westwood Hills Elementary
- West Point – West Point Elementary
- Williamsburg-James City County – Matthew Whaley Elementary and Rawls Byrd Elementary
- Wise County – Coeburn Primary
- York County – Coventry Elementary and Mount Vernon Elementary
More information about the VIP incentive program for schools and school divisions is available on the VDOE website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/va_index_performance_awards/index.shtml
