APS Sees Slight Gains In Most Standards Of Learning Test Subjects

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington Public saw slight gains in most subjects in the 2023-2024 Standards of Learning standardized tests.

According to Virginia Department of Education data released Tuesday, the English reading pass rate for APS was 80 percent, the same as last year. The math pass rate was 79 percent, one point higher than last year. There were 86 percent of students passing English writing, up seven points. In history/social science, the 81 percent pass rate was a one-point increase. APS had a 74 percent pass rate for science, up two points from last year.

The pass rates across APS were higher than the state average in all subjects. The state averages were 73 percent in English reading, 71 percent in math, 76 percent in English writing, 65 percent in history/social science, and 68 percent in science.

"We know that when we are intentional about funding and supporting public education, great things can happen," said Superintendent Aaron Spence in a statement. "We still have work to do, but I am proud of everything our dedicated educators have accomplished to get us where we are today."

Statewide, Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office said the SOL results reflected the start of learning recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall pass rate in math increased from 69 percent to 71 percent. The English reading pass rate remained the same at 73 percent.

"Today’s promising data shows that when we have high expectations for our students, teachers and schools, they meet them when using proven approaches and tools," said Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera. "We know what works. Every school in the Commonwealth must know and understand each student’s academic progress and mastery and provide tailored supports and teaching that will put every student on track to succeed in life."

According to the Virginia Department of Education, 70 percent of school divisions showed improvements in third to eighth grade reading scores, 10.7 percent maintained scores, and 19.1 percent had declines. In third to eighth grade math, 75 percent of school divisions saw score improvements, 4.6 percent maintained scores and 19.8 percent had declines.

In high school, the math pass rate increased from 81 percent to 84 percent. However, the reading pass rate declined from 85 percent to 84 percent.

Most APS student subgroups had gains in reading and math. Students with disabilities had a reading pass rate increase from 50 to 53 percent and math pass rate increase from 78 percent to 79 percent. Economically disadvantaged students' reading pass rate increased from 59 to 60 percent, and the math pass rate increased from 78 percent to 79 percent. English learners improved both in math from 78 to 79 percent and reading pass rate declined from 34 to 37 percent.

Chronic Absenteeism and Other State Education Focuses

Along with SOL results, the Virginia Department of Education provided an update on another statewide focus: chronic absenteeism. Youngkin's office reiterated the benefits of regular school attendance, as chronically absent students (attending less than 90 percent of the school year) performed 19 percentage points below other students in reading and 26 points below in math.

Statewide, the rate of chronic absenteeism fell from 19.3 percent to 16.1 percent, with 40,974 fewer students chronically absent in the last school year. Virginia K-12 students collectively had 1,276,522 less absent days to allow 8,935,654 more hours of instruction, according to a Virginia Department of Education estimate.

The state is running an All in VA initiative through the 2025-2026 school year to address learning loss through high-intensity tutoring, extended time for tutoring, summer programs and personalized supplemental math and reading resources. The initiative also focuses on reducing chronic absenteeism with a Chronic Absenteeism Task Force, an action kit for divisions and other strategies.

The Virginia Department of Education is also accelerating the implementation of the Virginia Literary Act in kindergarten to third grade to support early literacy. The state initiative includes new instructional strategies for literacy and requires additional professional development for teachers.