ACPS Shows Steady Momentum on SOLs; Attendance Improves as Division Continues Push to Close Gaps

NEWS RELEASE

(ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Virginia) – Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) students maintained or improved performance on Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments in 2024-25. Divisionwide, pass rates rose in math, climbing 2 percentage points to 74%, and in science, up 2 points to 70%. Reading remained steady at 75%, and history was essentially flat at 72%.

Compared with statewide averages in 2024-25, ACPS outperformed the state in reading (75% vs. 74%), math (74% vs. 72%), and history (72% vs. 66%). Science results were close, with ACPS at 70% and the state at 71%.

Division leaders noted that, because the state has raised expectations on these exams, holding steady is itself a positive outcome. Combined with a continued reduction in chronic absenteeism, the results reflect steady momentum for student learning.

“Our students and educators have shown steady momentum on the Standards of Learning, even as the state has raised expectations,” said Dr. Chandra Hayes, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. “Maintaining strong results under more rigorous testing reflects the dedication of our teachers and the resilience of our students. At the same time, we know that not all groups of students are experiencing success at the same level. Our strategic plan commits us to ensuring thriving students in every classroom, and that means continuing to invest in the supports and resources necessary to close achievement gaps while maintaining high expectations for every student in every classroom.”

While ACPS continues to exceed or match statewide averages in several subjects, results also highlight persistent inequities. In 2024-25, the reading pass rate for all students was 75%, compared with 47% for Black students. In math, economically disadvantaged students had a 50% pass rate, 24 percentage points below the divisionwide rate of 74%. Similar gaps are also evident for Hispanic students, English Learners, and students with disabilities, underscoring the need for continued targeted supports across multiple groups.

Chronic absenteeism is an area of progress that connects directly to achievement. The percentage of students missing 10% or more of the school year has declined each year since 2022-23, falling from 17.7% to 12.6% in 2023-24 and to 11.8% in 2024-25. Nearly every student group improved attendance over this period, underscoring the importance of students being present and engaged in school each day.

“The data reinforce what we see every day in our schools: When students are present and engaged, they learn and succeed,” said Dr. Patrick McLaughlin, Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning. “Our division’s progress in reducing chronic absenteeism is encouraging, and it aligns directly with our commitment to affirming and empowering communities. At the same time, we must continue to focus on equitable and transformative resources that provide targeted interventions in literacy, math, and beyond. This combination of strong instruction, consistent attendance, and intentional support is how we will accelerate learning and ensure success for every student.”

Virginia’s SOL program measures how well students meet the state’s academic standards. Recent changes have made the tests more rigorous, so year-to-year comparisons require context. Division-level results are available on the “Assessments” tab of the Albemarle County Public Schools Quality Profile. School-level results can be accessed from the Virginia School Quality Profiles page for ACPS.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer A. Butler
Deputy Chief Communications Officer
Office of Communications
Albemarle County Public Schools
(434) 260-4634
communications@k12albemarle.org