Virginia Department of Education

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News Release

Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples says student achievement in 2014-2015 on Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in English, mathematics, history and science represents significant progress in the commonwealth’s effort to better prepare students for success in college and careers. Statewide, students posted five-point overall gains in reading and mathematics, while achievement increased by two points each in writing, science and history.

“Virginia teachers and students are adapting to the more rigorous standards implemented by the state Board of Education several years ago,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said. “The positive trend lines confirm that meeting these new standards is possible, although it will take time for schools to complete the adjustment.”

The 2014-2015 school year was the first during which students in grades 3-8 were allowed to retake SOL tests in reading, mathematics, science and history. On average, the performance of students on expedited retakes increased pass rates by about four points on each test.

“By providing a second chance, we get a more complete picture of the performance of schools in preparing students to meet the commonwealth’s high expectations for learning and achievement,” Staples said. “We all understand the limitations of a single, point-in-time test. Some students who initially do not pass may have just had a bad day. And there are students who barely miss the benchmark and just need a little extra instruction in a particular area to achieve proficiency. For these students, an expedited retake offers another opportunity to demonstrate success before the end of the year.”

Statewide, 79 percent of students passed the mathematics test for their grade level or course, compared with 74 percent during 2013-2014, and 68 percent in 2011-2012, when Virginia introduced new mathematics tests that require students to apply critical-thinking skills and their knowledge of grade-level or course content to solve multistep problems.

Students posted gains on all nine individual grade-level and end-of-course mathematics tests and achieved pass rates of 80 percent or higher on five of the assessments.

Students in grades 3, 6, 7 and 8 led the way with seven-point improvements, followed by a six-point gain by fifth graders. Students achieved pass rates of 80 percent or higher on the Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry end-of-course tests that are tied to the commonwealth’s diploma requirements.

“The state Board of Education increased the rigor of the SOLs – of both the standards and of the assessments – so students will be better prepared for college and for opportunities in the 21st-century workforce,” Board President Billy K. Cannaday Jr. said. “Teachers, principals, division superintendents and other educators deserve great credit for the progress students are making toward achieving these higher expectations.”

In reading, 79 percent of students passed the test for their grade level, an increase of five points over 2013-2014, and 77 percent passed in writing, an increase of two points. More challenging English reading and writing SOL tests were introduced in 2012-2013.

Fourth graders achieved a seven-point gain in reading, while third graders and fifth graders each achieved six-point improvements.

Students improved on six of the seven reading tests and achieved pass rates of 80 percent or higher on two of the assessments, including the high school reading test students must pass to graduate.

 

 

 

African-American and Hispanic students made progress toward closing achievement gaps in both mathematics and reading.

Overall performance of African-American students in mathematics improved by seven points in 2014-2015. Since 2011-2012 – when the new mathematics SOL tests were first administered – black students have narrowed the achievement gap with white students in the subject by five points.  Black students achieved a six-point gain in reading in 2014-2015. The gap in reading between black and white students has narrowed by two points since more challenging reading tests were introduced.

Hispanic students achieved six-point gains in both mathematics and reading, and have narrowed the achievement gap with white students by two points in both subjects since the introduction of more challenging assessments.

Achievement increased on four of the five SOL science tests and was up by two points overall. Fifth-grade students achieved the largest gain at six points. Eighth graders achieved a four-point gain. Achievement was up by one point on the Biology and Chemistry end-of-course tests and was flat in Earth Science. Science tests introduced in 2012-2013 also include items that require students to apply content knowledge in solving multistep problems.

Achievement increased on three of the six SOL tests in history and social science and was up by two points overall in the subject area.

State accreditation ratings will be issued this fall, following the adoption by the Board of Education of revised accreditation standards aligned with legislation approved by the 2015 General Assembly. 

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For more information about SOL pass rates, see 2014-2015 SOL pass rates for schools, school divisions and the commonwealth.
Also see, Governor McAuliffe’s News Releases: Governor McAuliffe Announces Across-the-Board Improvement on SOLs

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