Annual Report Card
Issued 2007-2008 School Year
Data Element Descriptions

ACT
(High School Only)

The ACT is an optional test taken by high school students and used by many colleges and universities as part of the admissions process. The ACT assesses students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The test assesses English, mathematics, reading, and science. Scores on each section of the ACT range from 1 to 36. The composite score is the average of the four test scores. Additional information about the ACT can be found at the following link: http://www.act.org/aap/.

Advanced Placement Courses and Exams
(High School Only)

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Through the program, students enroll in rigorous courses developed by the College Board and have the potential to earn college credit while enrolled in high school. Some colleges and universities award college credit to students who earn a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exams given in the spring. Additional information about the AP program can be found at the following link: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/program/index.html.

Average Class Size
(Middle and High School Only)

The average class size is calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled in a language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies class by the number of sections of each class.

Average daily attendance is calculated by dividing the number of days of student attendance by the total number of days that a student is enrolled during the school year. Attendance is one indicator used to determine the AYP status for elementary and middle schools. The ADA reported in the elementary and middle school report cards is as of March. The ADA reported in the high school report cards is based on the end of the school year attendance data.

The average years of teaching experience reported in the annual school report card includes instructional personnel only and is based on teachers’ total years of teaching experience.

Career and Technical Education Information
(High School Only)

Students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education program of studies have the opportunity to earn industry certification, state licensure, and demonstrate skills on National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessments. Information about Career and Technical Education offerings for students in Virginia Beach can be found at: http://www.vbschools.com/TCE/index.asp.

Diplomas Awarded
(High School Only)

The number of diplomas and certificates of completion awarded to students is reported on an annual basis during the fall, following the student's completion year. Graduates in Virginia may receive one of the following diplomas: Standard Diploma, Advanced Studies Diploma (this category includes the International Baccalaureate Diploma), Special Diploma (for students with a disability who complete the requirements for their individualized education programs), and a Modified Standard Diploma. A student is considered a program completer if he/she does not qualify for a diploma but does earn one of the following certificates: Certificate of Program Completion (for students who complete a prescribed program of study defined by the local school board, but do not qualify for a diploma), General Educational Development (GED) Certificate, General Achievement Diploma (GAD), or an Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) Certificate (for students who receive a GED as part of an ISAEP).

Dropout Rate
(High School Only)

The dropout rate is calculated by dividing the total number of students who drop out during a school year by the fall membership for that school year. The dropout rate reported for the school division includes all dropouts in grades 7 through 12.

Students participating in the free/reduced lunch program are considered to be economically disadvantaged. Division policies for providing students with meals for free or at a reduced cost are described at the following link: http://www.vbschools.com/food_services/free_meals.asp.

The percentage of gifted students reported in the annual school report card reflects a count of the students identified for gifted services as of the end of September of the given school year. Additional information concerning eligibility for services, the process for identifying students, and the type of services provided by the gifted program in Virginia Beach can be found at the following link: http://www.vbschools.com/curriculum/appprocess.asp#gifted.

Graduation Rate
(High School Only)

Graduation rates for high schools include all recipients of any type of certificate or diploma (as well as students who have dropped out of or transferred into a high school) in the denominator and only those students receiving a Standard Diploma or Advanced Studies Diploma (excluding students receiving a Special Diploma, Modified Standard Diploma, Certificate of Attendance, or GED certificate) in the standard number of years in the numerator. The formula for calculating the graduation rate is as follows:
Where:
C = number of students earning any state-approved diploma or completion certificate
D12 = number of 12th grade dropouts for the current year
D11 = number of 11th grade dropouts for the previous year
D10 = number of 10th grade dropouts for two years prior
D9 = number of 9th grade dropouts for three years prior

The percentage of Limited English Proficient students reported in the annual school report card reflects a count of the students who have been identified or have received English as a Second Language (ESL) services because English is not their native language, and they experience difficulty speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language. Additional information about the federal definition used to identify LEP students can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/ESL/LEPDef.pdf.

The percentage of migrant students reported in the annual school report card reflects a count of the students classified as migratory due to the nature of their parents’ or guardians’ work as a migratory agricultural worker (i.e., migratory dairy worker, migratory fisher) and a recent history of relocating for the purpose of finding such work.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is the level of improvement that states, school divisions, and schools receiving federal funds must achieve according to federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. Progress is determined based on student performance in the areas of English/reading and mathematics as well as participation rates associated with testing. Other academic indicators such as attendance and science performance at the elementary and middle school levels and graduation rate at the high school level are also factors when calculating AYP ratings. Additional information about the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 can be found at the following links: http://www.vbschools.com/schools/nclb/index.asp; http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/src/vps-accountability.shtml#ayp; and http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/nclb.

This percentage is based on the number of teachers in the school who are new to Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Based on NCLB legislation, teachers are considered highly qualified if they hold full state licensure, including licensure through alternative routes, and teach only in their area or areas of endorsement. Under the legislation, core academic subjects include English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign language, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography. To be designated as highly qualified, teacher assistants must have a secondary diploma or its equivalent, and they must meet one of the following options: complete two years of study at an institution of higher education; obtain an associate’s degree or higher; or meet a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate their knowledge and ability on a formal state or local assessment. Each year school divisions submit a report to the Virginia Department of Education, which compares teacher qualifications to their teaching assignments. Additional information concerning the definition of highly qualified teachers and teacher assistants can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/nclb/NCLB_QA-hqteachrs.pdf.

The percentage of teachers with provisional credentials reported in the annual school report card is based on the number of teachers who had certification or licensure on a provisional basis.

The percentage of teachers with graduate degrees is based on the number of instructional personnel who have earned a master's degree or higher and is based on the information provided by the Virginia Department of Education in their annual school report cards.

Pupil Teacher Ratio Without Resource Personnel
(Elementary School Only)

The pupil teacher ratio (excluding resource personnel) is calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled in each grade level by the number of full-time equivalent teachers within each school and does not include art, music, physical education, technology, gifted, ESL, remedial, or Title I teachers.

Pupil Teacher Ratio With Resource Personnel
(Elementary School Only)

The pupil teacher ratio (including resource personnel) is calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled in each grade level by the number of full-time equivalent teachers within each school and includes art, music, physical education, technology, gifted, ESL, remedial, and Title I teachers.

The Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment administers a survey to students in selected grades, all parents, and all school-based instructional and administrative staff. The quality of education delivered by the school is one item on the survey. The data reported in the annual school report card reflects the percentage of respondents who rate the quality of education delivered by the school as an A or B on a grading scale from A to E.

SAT Reasoning Test
(High School Only)

The SAT, administered by the College Board, is designed to assess many of the skills that are important for students' success in college. These skills include the ability to analyze reading passages, to reason clearly, and to apply fundamental mathematical principles to unfamiliar problems. This is an optional test taken by high school students and is used by many colleges and universities as part of their admissions process. The test includes a mathematics, critical reading, and writing section. Scores on each section range from 200 to 800. Additional information about the SAT Reasoning Test can be found at the following link: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATI.html.

Scholarships
(High School Only)

The dollar value of scholarships accepted is reported. The amount of renewable scholarships is multiplied by four. The dollar value of ROTC scholarships and military academy appointments is included. However, the dollar value of Pell grants, work-study, and loans accepted by graduates has not been included. Additional information about scholarships can be found at: http://www.vbschools.com/scholarship/index.asp.

The school membership reported in the annual school report card is a count of students actively enrolled in the school as of the end of September of the current school year.

The SOL English: Reading, Literature, and Research assessment is administered in grades 3 through 8 and is also administered in high school as an end-of-course test. The assessment results reported in the annual school report card reflect the percentage of students at each proficiency level. The rules for calculating yearly pass rates were set by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and approved by the United States Department of Education (USDOE) according to NCLB guidelines. Additional information about the SOL English: Reading, Literature, and Research assessments can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/EnglishBlueprint05/.

The SOL English: Writing assessment is administered in grades 5 and 8 and is also administered in high school as an end-of-course test. The assessment results reported in the annual school report card reflect the percentage of students at each proficiency level. The rules for calculating yearly pass rates were set by the VDOE and approved by the USDOE according to NCLB guidelines. Additional information about the SOL English: Writing assessments can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/EnglishBlueprint05/.

The SOL History and Social Sciences assessment is administered in grades 3, 5, and 8. End-of-course tests in the area of history and social sciences include Virginia and U.S. History, World History I, World History II, and World Geography. The assessment results reported in the annual school report card reflect the percentage of students at each proficiency level. Additional information about the SOL History and Social Sciences assessment can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/.

The SOL Mathematics assessment is administered in grades 3 through 8. End-of-course tests in the area of mathematics include Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. The assessment results reported in the annual school report card reflect the percentage of students at each proficiency level. The rules for calculating yearly pass rates were set by the VDOE and approved by the USDOE according to NCLB guidelines. Additional information about the SOL Mathematics assessments can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/MathematicsBlueprints03/.

The SOL Science assessment is administered in grades 3, 5, and 8. End-of-course tests in the area of science include Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry. The assessment results reported in the annual school report card reflect the percentage of students at each proficiency level. The rules for calculating yearly pass rates were set by the VDOE and approved by the USDOE according to NCLB guidelines. Additional information about the SOL Science assessments can be found at the following link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/ScienceBlueprints03/.

The percentage of special education students reported in the annual school report card reflects a count of the students identified for special education services as of the end of September of the given year. Additional information about the special education program in Virginia Beach can be found at: http://www.vbschools.com/curriculum/special_ed/index.asp#offered.

The number of school staff reported includes the categories of administrators/interns (i.e., principal, assistant principal, interns), instructional personnel, classified personnel (i.e., cafeteria workers, custodians, office associates, teacher assistants), and other school staff such as school nurses, school improvement specialists, and student activity coordinators.

The Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition (Stanford 10) is a nationally norm-referenced test used by the school division as one means to assess the educational progress of students. Results from the Stanford 10 allow for a comparison of students' achievement with that of students in the same grades across the nation. In Virginia Beach, the reading, mathematics, and language subtests of the Stanford 10 are administered to students in grades 4, 6, and 9 during the fall semester. Additional information about the Stanford 10 results for Virginia Beach students can be found at the following link: http://www.vbschools.com/school_data/facts_figs/index.asp#stanford10.

School accreditation ratings reflect student achievement on SOL assessments and the other statewide tests in English, history/social sciences, mathematics, and science that constitute the Virginia Assessment Program. Ratings are based on the achievement of students on tests taken during the previous academic year and may also reflect a three-year average of achievement. Adjustments also may be made for students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and for students who have recently transferred into a Virginia public school. Additional information about Virginia's accountability system and accreditation ratings can be found at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/src/accreditation.shtml.

Student mobility is calculated by comparing the number of students that enter/and or leave a school after the start of the school year to the number of students originally enrolled in the school at the start of the year.

A Title I school is a school that receives federal funds to help children in high-poverty areas who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. Title I funding is based on the number of low-income children in a school, generally those eligible for free lunch or reduced-fee lunch programs. Some Title I schools have federally funded programs for a select group of qualifying students. These schools are known as targeted-assistance schools. Title I schools in which 40 percent or more students qualify for federally funded services are referred to as having schoolwide programs. Additional information about the Title I services provided in Virginia Beach can be found at: http://www.vbschools.com/opraa/title1.asp.

The K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction Program is a state program to reduce the student/teacher ratio. Schools are assigned a target ratio based on the percentage of students who are eligible for free lunch. Target ratios in Virginia Beach range from 17 to 1 up to 24 to 1. School divisions are required to provide a local match for the state funds based on the composite index of local ability-to-pay.