Alexandria City Schools Make Gains In Most Standards Of Learning Test Subjects

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Public Schools saw gains or similar pass rates in all subjects in the 2023–2024 Standards of Learning standardized tests.

According to Virginia Department of Education data released Tuesday, the English reading pass rate for ACPS was 61 percent, up one point from the previous year. The math pass rate increased from 53 to 55 percent, the science rate increased from 52 percent to 53 percent, and the English writing rate increased from 65 percent to 71 percent. The history pass rate had the greatest jump — from 56 percent to 64 percent.

The ACPS pass rates remain lower than the state average, although the ACPS history pass rate is just one point away. The state averages were 73 percent in English reading, 71 percent in math, 76 percent in English writing, 65 percent in history/social science, and 68 percent in science.

Statewide, Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office said the SOL results reflected the start of learning recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia's overall pass rate in math increased from 69 percent to 71 percent. The English reading pass rate remained the same at 73 percent.

According to the Virginia Department of Education, 70 percent of school divisions showed improvements in third to eighth grade reading scores, 10.7 percent maintained scores, and 19.1 percent had declines. In third to eighth grade math, 75 percent of school divisions saw score improvements, 4.6 percent maintained scores and 19.8 percent had declines.

In high school, the math pass rate increased from 81 percent to 84 percent. However, the reading pass rate declined from 85 percent to 84 percent.

"Today’s promising data shows that when we have high expectations for our students, teachers and schools, they meet them when using proven approaches and tools," said Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera. "We know what works. Every school in the Commonwealth must know and understand each student’s academic progress and mastery and provide tailored supports and teaching that will put every student on track to succeed in life."

Most ACPS student subgroups had gains in reading and math. Students with disabilities had a reading pass rate increase from 27 to 30 percent and math increase from 24 to 28 percent. For economically disadvantaged students, the English pass rate increased one point to 47 percent, and the math rate increased three points to 43 percent. English learners' reading pass rate remained the same at 26 percent, while the math rate increased from 29 percent to 33 percent.

Results are also available on the school level.

Chronic Absenteeism and Other State Education Focuses

With the release of SOL results, the Virginia Department of Education provided an update on another statewide focus: chronic absenteeism. Youngkin's office reiterated the benefits of regular school attendance, as chronically absent students (attending less than 90 percent of the school year) performed 19 percentage points below other students in reading and 26 points below in math.

Statewide, the rate of chronic absenteeism fell from 19.3 percent to 16.1 percent, with 40,974 fewer students chronically absent in the last school year. Virginia K-12 students collectively had 1,276,522 less absent days to allow 8,935,654 more hours of instruction, according to a Virginia Department of Education estimate.

Chronic absenteeism rates by school division will be released later in the fall.

The state is running an All in VA initiative through the 2025-2026 school year to address learning loss through high-intensity tutoring, extended time for tutoring, summer programs and personalized supplemental math and reading resources. The initiative also focuses on reducing chronic absenteeism with a Chronic Absenteeism Task Force, an action kit for divisions and other strategies.

The Virginia Department of Education is also accelerating the implementation of the Virginia Literary Act in kindergarten to third grade to support early literacy. The state initiative includes new instructional strategies for literacy and requires additional professional development for teachers.