Eleven West End schools were among 101 high-performing schools statewide to be offered a three-year waiver from annual accreditation by Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright today.

The schools qualified for the flexibility by achieving pass rates of 95 percent or higher in all four tested Standards of Learning (SOL) content areas for two consecutive years. Division superintendents have until July 1 to apply for the flexibility. Each school awarded a waiver will remain fully accredited through 2014-2015.
 
“I congratulate the principals, teachers and students of these schools for performance and achievement that consistently exceeds the commonwealth’s accreditation standards,” Wright said. “These schools have earned an opportunity to set aside concerns about annual accreditation for three years and lead the way in developing innovative instructional strategies and lesson plans that immerse students in the content of Virginia’s rigorous new standards in mathematics, English, science and history and prepare them for success on the corresponding assessments.”
 
The 11 Henrico schools are: Colonial Trail Elementary, Deep Run High, Echo Lake Elementary, Gayton Elementary, Nuckols Farm Elementary, Rivers Edge Elementary, Shady Grove Elementary, Short Pump Elementary, Springfield Park Elementary, Tuckahoe Elementary and Twin Hickory Elementary.

Only Fairfax County (with 37) had more schools on this year's list.

The 101 schools qualify for waivers having achieved pass rates in English, mathematics, history/social science and science of 95 percent or greater during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 (results for state tests administered during 2011-2012 won’t be available until later this summer).

The Board of Education in 2006 authorized waivers from annual accreditation for high-performing schools. Schools granted waivers continue to administer SOL tests and detailed grade-by-grade and subject-by-subject results are reported to parents and the public.