Virginia’s accountability system provides a broad picture of school quality by looking at more than just test scores.Depending on the school level, the state looks at mastery of academic content, year-to-year growth in reading and math, readiness indicators such as absenteeism and advanced coursework, and on-time graduation rates for high schools. These measures determine whether a school is rated Distinguished, On Track, Off Track, or in Need of Intensive Support. The intent is to offer a balanced picture of school quality rather than relying solely on test scores.
Across the division, the vast majority of IWCS schools earned ratings of Distinguished or On Track, meaning they are meeting or exceeding the state’s expectations for student achievement, growth, and readiness. Smithfield High School and Windsor High School both earned the Distinguished designation, the highest category assigned by the state. Windsor High earned the second highest framework score for all high schools in Superintendent’s Region 2, and scored the highest of all Region 2 high schools in 3E readiness which measures student preparation for life after high school. All elementary and middle schools in the division earned On Track designations, with students demonstrating solid achievement and continued growth in reading and mathematics. These overall results reflect that IWCS is performing competitively within the region and that students are demonstrating strong progress in multiple areas of learning.
Hardy Elementary received a federal designation of Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) for students with disabilities, which results in an overall rating of Off Track. This identification does not reflect the performance of the entire school, but instead signals that a particular student group needs additional support to accelerate progress. Schools with federal designations receive added resources, training, and improvement planning to strengthen outcomes for the identified student group, and IWCS is already implementing measures to address the identified needs at Hardy Elementary
These ratings provide a snapshot of how schools are performing today and where targeted improvements can make the most difference. While IWCS is proud of the strong performance across the division, the results also highlight opportunities for growth—particularly in chronic absenteeism, literacy and math progress, and support for specific student groups.
The division will continue implementing evidence-based strategies to enhance teaching and learning, improve attendance, expand readiness and workforce pathways, and ensure that all students receive the support they need to thrive.
“IWCS remains committed to ensuring every student receives a high-quality education and is prepared for life after graduation,” said Superintendent Dr. Theo Cramer. “Although we are proud of our schools’ progress, we also know that we need to continue focusing on growth, and continuous improvement for all students.”
Families who want to learn more about how schools are measured or view school-level data can explore the Virginia School Quality Profiles and Parent & Student Resources, which offer clear explanations of the accountability system and tools to support learning at home. Both are available through the VDOE website at https://www.doe.virginia.gov. IWCS shared a detailed summary presentation with the School Board that further explains the results and outlines next steps in strengthening teaching, learning, and student support.