Isle of Wight County Schools (IWCS) has been officially recognized as a Purple Star School Division by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), a prestigious honor awarded to school divisions in which every school has earned the Purple Star designation for outstanding support of military-connected students and their families. IWCS is one of only a small number of divisions across Virginia to achieve this distinction.
The announcement comes as VDOE recognized 288 schools statewide with the Purple Star designation for 2024–2025, highlighting Virginia’s continued leadership in meeting the needs of military-connected students. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson praised the honorees, noting that Purple Star schools “are more than just military-friendly; they are student-centered, resilient, and deeply committed to removing barriers to success.” Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw emphasized the importance of the designation, stating that it represents the Commonwealth’s commitment to ensuring military children receive stability, opportunity, and excellence in education.
Isle of Wight County Schools’ journey toward achieving division-wide status began when Carrsville Elementary School became the first Purple Star School in the division in 2024. Carrsville’s accomplishment established a strong foundation for a coordinated, division-level effort that continued over the past year, leading to all nine IWCS schools earning the Purple Star designation this cycle. Each school completed a comprehensive application demonstrating their commitment to serving military families through staff training, transition supports, student programs, and ongoing communication.
Throughout the division, schools have implemented welcoming programs for students arriving from military installations across the country, including student ambassador groups, personalized school tours, and arrival packets designed to help new students quickly acclimate to their school community. Each building includes a designated Military and Family Liaison trained to assist with enrollment, academic placement, deployment-related concerns, and community resource connections. Staff members across the division receive training on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to ensure consistent and informed support for students transitioning between school systems.
IWCS schools regularly host activities that honor and recognize the contributions of military families, including Month of the Military Child celebrations, Purple Up Day events, Veterans Day ceremonies, and special school-based recognitions for students with family members on active duty or recently deployed. These activities are complemented by strong partnerships with regional military installations and local veteran-support organizations, including Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Naval Station Norfolk, U.S. Coast Guard units, and local military liaisons who work closely with the division.
Superintendent Dr. Theo Cramer noted the significance of the achievement, stating, “This recognition reflects our schools’ deep commitment to ensuring every military-connected student feels welcomed, supported, and valued. We are proud of every IWCS school for earning this designation and for the staff, families, and partners who made this possible.” He added that the Purple Star Division status reinforces IWCS’ dedication to providing academic and social-emotional stability for students whose families often face frequent relocations and deployments.
Since the launch of the Purple Star program in 2018, VDOE and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact have awarded more than 1,083 Purple Star designations statewide. This year, IWCS joins Hampton City Schools and Portsmouth City Public Schools as newly named Purple Star divisions, further demonstrating the region’s strong support for military families.
As a Purple Star School Division, Isle of Wight County Schools will continue to expand its efforts to ensure military-connected students have access to consistent, high-quality educational experiences. The division remains committed to maintaining the programs, partnerships, and training that earned this distinction and to strengthening its support for the military families who enrich the IWCS community. Schools were recognized for their accomplishment at the November 13, 2025 School Board meeting.