The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) evaluates and measures the quality of every preschool classroom in the Commonwealth. The Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) program at Patriot High School has set itself apart by exceeding Virginia's quality standards for early childhood programs for the 2023-24 school year. According to the VDOE, only 4% of the 855 publicly funded preschool programs managed to exceed the state's quality expectations.

When asked about the secret behind this achievement, Melissa Van Wassen, preschool teacher, shared her insights.

“We believe that by creating high expectations and consistent routines from the first day of school, we are able to provide a learning environment that allows for high quality experiences to be successful all year long,” said Van Wassen. “The children build a connection with teachers and peers, know expectations, and therefore are able to engage in higher level activities academically, socially and emotionally.”

To be evaluated, both internal and external observations are conducted and assessed in three domains: emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support. Each of these domains encompasses 10 different dimensions. After each category is observed and rated on a scale of 1-7, the scores are averaged to determine if the VPI program needs support, meets expectations, or exceeds them.

“Scoring in the exceeds band is not an easy thing to do. It tells us that Patriot's Pre-K teaching team has established a positive emotional climate and consistently offers rigorous and engaging learning opportunities to prepare their students for kindergarten and beyond,” stated Camille Kelly, administrative coordinator for Preschool Programs.

By building strong connections between teachers and students, the VPI program at Patriot has enabled children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, ensuring that they are well-prepared for their transition to kindergarten and future academic success.