VDOE logo featuring a stylized torch with an orange flame in front of blue mountain shapes, with the letters VDOE below.The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) recently released updated information through its School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF), a statewide accountability system designed to provide a more complete picture of school performance. 

The framework measures how well schools are helping students succeed by looking at factors such as academic achievement, student growth, graduation outcomes, and readiness for life after high school. Based on these measures, schools receive performance ratings that provide families with a broader picture of school success. 

Overall, PWCS schools demonstrated strong performance and continued growth under the framework. Based on SPSF results alone, nearly two-thirds of PWCS schools earned ratings in the Meets Expectations or Distinguished categories, reflecting continued progress in student achievement and outcomes. 

Understanding Federal Accountability Designations 

In addition to Virginia's school ratings, schools are also evaluated through a federal accountability system that focuses on the performance of specific groups of students. 

One federal accountability designation is Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), which identifies schools where a particular student group may benefit from additional support and attention.  

A TSI designation does not mean a school is underperforming overall. Instead, it identifies an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to help improve outcomes for a specific group of students. 

While Virginia uses both the SPSF and federal accountability systems to evaluate schools, they measure different things. The SPSF reflects a school's overall performance, while federal accountability designations focus on how specific student groups are performing.  

As a result, a school may improve its SPSF point total and overall performance while also receiving a federal designation that affects its final category. 

In some cases, schools received final designations that do not fully reflect their SPSF performance results. This highlights the importance of looking at both overall school performance and subgroup outcomes when evaluating school success. 

Supporting Continued Growth Through Elevate 2030 

Supporting the success of every student remains a central focus of the PWCS Elevate 2030 Strategic Plan.  

Through Elevate 2030, the division is strengthening academic support, expanding opportunities for student success, and focusing on outcomes across all student groups. The framework data can help guide those efforts by identifying areas where additional resources, strategies, and support may have the greatest impact. 

PWCS remains committed to continuous improvement and to ensuring every student has access to the opportunities and support needed to thrive.