Forty-Six County Schools Named Schools of Excellence

Click here or scroll down to see lists of schools and photos of celebrations.

Superintendent of Schools Steven L. Walts has named forty-six Prince William County schools as “Schools of Excellence” in the Division’s annual school awards program. Schools that attain this designation must demonstrate high levels of performance on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests for two different groups of students, those performing on grade level and those performing below grade level.

“Schools of Excellence criteria were adjusted this year to reflect the continuous improvement of our schools,” said Steve Walts, Superintendent of Schools. “We are very proud of our schools, students, and staff, and the progress they are making toward providing a world-class education.”

A School of Excellence must be fully accredited by the state and make adequate yearly progress on state tests according to the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Schools must also achieve an overall index score of 3.5 or higher according to Prince William County Public Schools’ guidelines. The index score is calculated by examining how well students who are above and below grade level perform on SOL tests. To obtain the highest rating, schools must ensure that ninety-seven percent of students performing on or above grade level pass the SOL tests, up from ninety-five last year. They must also ensure that fifty-five percent of students performing below grade level pass the SOL tests, up from the fifty percent required last year.

Two schools have earned this distinction for the first time, twelve schools are being recognized as Schools of Excellence for the second time, thirteen schools are third-time recipients of this honor, eight schools will be recognized as four-time Schools of Excellence recipients, nine schools have achieved this distinction for the fifth consecutive year, and two schools have earned this award for their sixth year.

Mountain View Elementary School and Osbourn Park High School have been named Schools of Excellence for the sixth consecutive year.

Leesylvania Elementary School and Battlefield High School were named a School of Excellence for the first time. Elementary schools named as Schools of Excellence for the second time are Alvey, Bel Air, Dale City, Enterprise, Kilby, Neabsco, Occoquan, Rippon, Sudley, and Swans Creek. Middle schools receiving the award for the second time are Lake Ridge and Stonewall.

Schools honored for the third year include Ashland, Cedar Point, Featherstone, Loch Lomond, Minnieville, Pattie, and Tyler elementary schools; Benton, Bull Run, Graham Park, and Marsteller middle schools; Pennington School; and C.D. Hylton High School.

Schools of Excellence for the fourth year include Antietam, Coles, King, Marumsco Hills, Montclair, and Westridge elementary schools; and Saunders and Woodbridge middle schools. Bennett, Bristow Run, Lake Ridge, Marshall, Nokesville, Old Bridge, Rockledge, and Springwoods elementary schools and Brentsville District High School have earned the School of Excellence distinction for the fifth year.

The annual awards will be celebrated at school sites. The schedule for these celebrations is below. The celebrations will recognize the contributions of the entire school community in achieving the Schools of Excellence designation.

School of Excellence Celebrations 2006
Click underlined schools below to see photos of celebrations.

* Revised 5/25/06