For the third year in a row, Virginia Beach City Public Schools is projected to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as a division under federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) guidelines. NCLB requires individual schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for student performance on statewide tests in reading and mathematics. Virginia Beach City Public Schools is expected to meet the necessary benchmarks at the division level to make AYP for 2007-2008, based on preliminary 2006-2007 test results. At the school level, 90 percent of the division’s 81 testing schools are projected to make AYP.

The performance benchmarks increase annually. In order to make AYP, 73 percent of a school’s students must demonstrate proficiency in English reading (up from 69 percent) and 71 percent (up from 67 percent) must be proficient in mathematics. The standards will progressively increase until the 2013-2014 school year at which time 100 percent of the students in individual schools and school districts are expected to achieve proficiency in reading and mathematics.

Under the federal education law, a school division and individual schools must meet or exceed 29 to 35 separate requirements which include participation in statewide testing, achievement in reading and mathematics, attendance rate, science passing rate (elementary and middle schools) or graduation rate (high schools). Missing a single benchmark may result in a school not making AYP. These requirements apply to the student population as a whole as well as to the following subgroups: students with disabilities, limited English proficient students, economically disadvantaged students, and the state-designated major racial/ethnic groups (Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic).

“In some subgroups or subject areas, one student passing or failing a test could mean the difference in whether or not a school makes AYP,” said Dr. Jared Cotton, Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Accountability.

Eight Virginia Beach schools- Corporate Landing Middle, Independence Middle, Landstown Middle, Larkspur Middle, Plaza Middle, Princess Anne Middle, Virginia Beach Middle, and Bettie F. Williams Elementary- are not projected to make AYP. It is important to note that although these schools did not meet the necessary benchmarks for AYP; each is projected to earn full Standards of Learning (SOL) accreditation.

“With our ongoing focus on data analysis, we are able to differentiate specific academic needs of students,” states Cotton. ”Schools will continue to examine their data and refine their school improvement plans. Central administration will continue to provide assistance to the schools in areas of identified need,” Cotton adds.