All public schools in the Lynchburg area — along with 98 percent of Virginia’s public schools — are fully accredited, the highest percentage since statewide testing in English, math, history and science began 10 years ago, the state Department of Education said Wednesday.
All Lynchburg City schools received accreditation, including Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation, which had been accredited with warning a year ago for the third time because it did not meet math pass rates.
This year, Dunbar students averaged a 73 percent pass rate, up from 66 percent the year before.
Lynchburg schools Superintendent Paul McKendrick explained that teachers at Dunbar made improving math comprehension a school-wide focus this year, incorporating math into areas across the curriculum, from English to science and social studies.
“I just think it was a wonderful demonstration …” McKendrick said. “They just rolled up their sleeves and got down to business, because of their pride in that building.”
Overall, McKendrick said that he was pleased with the testing results systemwide, but had concerns about sixth- and seventh-grade math, where he said scores are rising, but not enough. Efforts over the past four years toward improving student reading seem to be working, he said, but math achievement in those two grades seems to be lagging behind.
“I have no indication that our teachers aren’t working hard, but we aren’t getting the results,” McKendrick said, adding that he plans to spend time looking at the possible roots of the problem and potential solutions.
Dunbar was among a cohort of middle schools statewide that improved their scores in the most recent round of tests. This year, 96 percent of middle schools are fully accredited, up from 87 percent last year and 69 percent two years ago. Among Virginia elementary and high schools, 98 percent now are fully accredited.
Area schools that became fully accredited this year after warnings last year include Staunton River Middle School in Bedford County and Central Elementary School and Monelison Middle School in Amherst County. Along with all the Lynchburg City schools, public schools in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson counties all received full accreditation.
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