Date: January 19, 2005
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720

SCHOOL RECOGNITION CEREMONIES PLANNED

Over the next three months, fifty-eight Prince William County schools will be honored in ceremonies at the schools to celebrate their selection as Schools of Excellence. The schedule of recognition ceremonies is attached.

In November, Superintendent of Schools Edward L. Kelly named fifty-eight 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.

A School of Excellence must be fully accredited by the state and 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-five percent of students beginning the year on or above grade level pass the SOL tests. They must also ensure that fifty percent of students beginning the year below grade level pass the SOL tests.

Twenty schools have earned this distinction for the first time, eighteen schools are being recognized as Schools of Excellence for the second time, eight schools are third-time recipients of this honor, nine schools will be recognized as four-time Schools of Excellence recipients and three schools have achieved this distinction for the fifth consecutive year.

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