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More Virginia Schools Fail To Make The Grade

By: Michael Pope // September 26, 2012
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The failure rate for Virginia schools attempting accreditations increased slightly over the last year.
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The failure rate for Virginia schools attempting accreditations increased slightly over the last year.

Education officials say 93 percent of Virginia's public schools are fully accredited after meeting state benchmarks.

Just under 130 of Virginia's 1,800 schools failed to meet objectives on the Standards of Learning tests and other assessments in English, math, science and history. That's 3 percent more schools failing to make the grade this year compared to last year.

Officials at the Virginia Department of Education say that the dip can be blamed in part on more rigorous math tests introduced during the last school year.

Ninety percent of Virginia high schools achieved full accreditation standards, up 4 percent compared to last year, when the commonwealth first included high school graduation and completion in its accountability measures.

Eighty-eight percent of middle schools and 96 percent of elementary schools also are fully accredited.

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