On January 8, 2026, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) shared that it will now award Full Accreditation to all PWCS high schools following an appeal by PWCS. All PWCS schools are now “Fully Accredited.” Previously, the 13 high schools were considered “Conditionally Accredited.”

In December, the VDOE released 2024-25 school year accreditation and accountability information for public school divisions under its new system. Virginia recently changed its accountability system by separating school accreditation and school performance. Accreditation is focused on whether schools provide an essential foundation of high-quality programs for all students. Performance is captured through the School Performance and Support Framework and is focused on student progress and outcomes. 

Under the accreditation system, schools are assigned the following categories: 

  • Fully Accredited: Meets all requirements set by the state 
  • Conditionally Accredited: Has some areas to fix to regain full status 
  • Accreditation Denied: Has not made the required fixes 
  • New School: Temporary status for newly opened schools for one year 
  • Accreditation Withheld: Used if there is a serious testing issue, results cannot be validated.