Stuart High School regains full state accreditation
 |
| The main entrance at Stuart High School. |
Following a review by the Virginia Department of
Education, JEB Stuart High School has
been designated as fully accredited for the 2014-15 school year, Fairfax County
Public Schools announced Dec. 4.
Education, JEB Stuart High School has
been designated as fully accredited for the 2014-15 school year, Fairfax County
Public Schools announced Dec. 4.
Although Stuart students had been
improving academically, members of the Stuart community were disheartened
to learn in October that the school had missed full accreditation by just
one-half of a percentage point and had been designated as “partially
accredited: approaching benchmark-graduation and completion index.”
That happened because just eight
students had been incorrectly categorized when the graduation rate was
calculated, said school board member Sandy Evans. Those students had gotten
certificates of completion but still hadn’t fulfilled all the requirements for
graduation.
students had been incorrectly categorized when the graduation rate was
calculated, said school board member Sandy Evans. Those students had gotten
certificates of completion but still hadn’t fulfilled all the requirements for
graduation.
Evans worked with Del. Kaye Kory and
Sen. Dick Saslaw to appeal the accreditation decision. Virginia Secretary of Education Anne
Holton accepted their request to recalculate the graduation rate.
Sen. Dick Saslaw to appeal the accreditation decision. Virginia Secretary of Education Anne
Holton accepted their request to recalculate the graduation rate.
The graduation rate calculation is complex, and the students at issue had been categorized
in a different way, Evans said. They hadn’t dropped out and have now been reclassified as “continuing to complete” as they work toward
finishing the requirements for a high school diploma.
in a different way, Evans said. They hadn’t dropped out and have now been reclassified as “continuing to complete” as they work toward
finishing the requirements for a high school diploma.
“A whole lot of people were involved in
making sure the graduation rate was properly calculated,” she said. “Stuart
folks worked hard on this. It was a team effort.”
making sure the graduation rate was properly calculated,” she said. “Stuart
folks worked hard on this. It was a team effort.”
“We are incredibly proud of the significant
academic gains made by Stuart High School students during the past year and appreciate
the hard work and dedication of Stuart High School teachers and school
leaders,” said Deputy Superintendent Steve Lockard in announcing the school’s change in status. “We also are appreciative
of the cooperation and assistance of the Virginia Department of Education in
this matter.”
academic gains made by Stuart High School students during the past year and appreciate
the hard work and dedication of Stuart High School teachers and school
leaders,” said Deputy Superintendent Steve Lockard in announcing the school’s change in status. “We also are appreciative
of the cooperation and assistance of the Virginia Department of Education in
this matter.”
Yay to Principal Penny Gros and all the incredible teachers at JEB Stuart H.S. Thank you Sandy for your follow-up and not accepting the previous result.
So, they kicked the ball a few inches to barely make a first down and we're supposed to be impressed? I doubt that this will be nearly enough to keep my neighbors from moving outside the Beltway once their kids reach high school age.
If your neighbors are that ignorant and unwilling to understand what is going on at Stuart that they are willing to sell their house without finding out, you may be better off without them. When your smarter neighbors move in, nudge them to get involved in the school – PTSA, boosters, tutoring, etc. Their involvement will make a difference.
I think people who've been watching Stuart are well aware of the considerable resources that FCPS has been putting into Stuart, including the assignment of top administrators to the school, to reverse its decline under Pam Jones and Prosperanta Calhoun. Those efforts are now paying off. Penny Gros is doing a fantastic job there.
"…I couldn't be happier than if they were based on real grades."
Clueless (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmS4zRNir5w