Albemarle students improve SOL performance, outpace statewide gains

Pass rates rose in reading, math, history and writing, and a long-standing reading gap for Black students narrowed.

By Albemarle County Public Schools

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. — Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) students improved on most of Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) tests last year and gained ground faster than the state as a whole in reading and mathematics, according to results released by the Virginia Department of Education.

Division-wide, 76.6% of students passed the reading test, up from 75.3% the year before, and 75.6% passed in math, up from 74% in 2024-25. Pass rates in history (+2.5) and writing (+4.5) increased more substantially, while science saw a more modest 0.7 point gain. Albemarle’s reading and math gains outpaced the statewide increases.

Among the year’s most encouraging signs, Black students in ACPS posted their strongest reading gains in years, and the gap for Black students’ reading pass rates narrowed by roughly 5 points. Hispanic students improved in every subject (1 to 5 points in each subject), with particularly strong gains in math (+5).

Division leaders credit a multiyear effort to strengthen instruction and provide high-quality instructional materials. These efforts are anchored by the ACPS Division Literacy Plan, which is grounded in the science of reading and supported by evidence-based professional learning for teachers.

“We’re proud of our students for outpacing the state in reading and math, and we are encouraged that some of our largest gaps are beginning to close,” said Chandra Hayes, acting superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools. “That is the direct result of years of focused work by our teachers, staff, and school board. By providing staff with evidence-based professional learning opportunities and high-quality instructional materials, we are committed to actively closing the achievement gaps and enhancing student learning.”

Staff noted that the strongest results are emerging where new materials and professional learning have been in place the longest. The division was an early adopter and remains focused on deepening its new curriculum. “Our teachers’ ability to consistently learn, adapt and deliver quality instruction is beginning to move the needle,” Craig Dommer, executive director of curriculum, assessment, and instruction, said.

Educators pay especially close attention to Algebra I scores and third grade reading scores because both are among the strongest early signs that a student is on track to graduate on time. Albemarle improved in both, with about 87% of students passing Algebra I and 69% passing third grade reading. Of particular note, according to ACPS officials, is an 11% increase in the pass rate for Black third grade students in Albemarle County compared to a 1% increase for Black third grade students statewide.

Many student groups improved, particularly in math and writing, but progress was uneven. Division leaders said the priority for the year ahead is to sustain and broaden the progress by extending the support that drove this year's gains. “We know that not all of our students are experiencing success at the same level,” Hayes said, “and that is where our focus has to be.”

Leaders framed the results not as an endpoint but as evidence that a long-term strategy is beginning to take hold. Division and school-specific SOL results are available through the Virginia Department of Education website. The state’s School Quality Profile reports will be updated in the coming weeks, and Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework accountability ratings are scheduled for release in October 2026.