Date:  January 6, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

Superintendent of Schools Edward L. Kelly has named fifteen county schools as “Schools of Excellence.”  Schools that attain this designation must demonstrate high levels of performance on the SOL tests for two different groups of students, those beginning the school year on grade level and those beginning the school year below grade level.  

To obtain the highest rating, schools must ensure that 95 percent of students beginning the year on or above grade level pass the SOL tests.  They must also ensure that 50 percent of students beginning the year below grade level pass the SOL tests.

Criteria for the School of Excellence Award include, but are not limited to:  meeting state requirements on the Standards of Learning tests and other achievement tests; attendance rates; parent, student and teacher satisfaction; and the Virginia Wellness tests. 
Five schools have earned this distinction for the first time, seven schools are being recognized as Schools of Excellence for the second time, and three schools are third-time recipients of this honor.

 The five schools designated as Schools of Excellence for the first time are Coles Elementary School, Marumsco Hills Elementary School, Pennington Traditional School, Saunders Middle School and Woodbridge Middle School.

 Schools honored for the second year are Bennett Elementary School, Brentsville District High School, Marshall Elementary School, Nokesville Elementary School, Old Bridge Elementary School, Springwoods Elementary School, and Westridge Elementary School.
 Henderson Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School and Osbourn Park High School have earned the Schools of Excellence distinction for the third year.

 The annual awards are celebrated at school sites during the last two weeks in January.  At celebration ceremonies, the School Board and Superintendent present the school with a cash award of $1,000.  Every employee receives a certificate of recognition for contributing “in an outstanding manner to the school-wide effort” to make the school a School of Excellence.  Each school also receives a School of Excellence flag at a School Board meeting in February.
The recognition schedule is attached.