Six of Montgomery County’s 20 public schools meet the highest standards of Virginia’s new School Performance and Support Framework, while five schools rank below state expectations and need more support, according to a new report.
The county school board will get the report on school rankings when it meets Tuesday.
There will be a closed meeting at 5 p.m. in the school division office conference rooms to discuss personnel and legal matters. The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the county government center, 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg.
Virginia’s new School Performance and Support Framework integrates state and federal accountability requirements. The state Department of Education released the framework’s first-year results in early December.
All schools accredited, but some need help
According to the presentation prepared for the Tuesday meeting, all Montgomery County schools are fully accredited, meaning they meet all state requirements.
The framework also measures accountability in terms of learning, progress and outcomes. It places schools in one of four rankings:
- Distinguished, meaning the school exceeds state expectations. These include Gilbert Linkous Elementary School, Harding Avenue Elementary, Kipps Elementary, Margaret Beeks Elementary, Auburn High School and Blacksburg High.
- On track, meaning the school meets expectations. These include Auburn Elementary, Belview Elementary, Christiansburg Elementary, Christiansburg Primary School, Auburn Middle School, Blacksburg Middle, Christiansburg High and Eastern Montgomery High.
- Off track, meaning the school ranks below expectations and needs more state support. These include Falling Branch Elementary, Prices Fork Elementary and Christiansburg Middle.
- Needs intensive support, meaning the school ranks significantly below expectations. These include Eastern Montgomery Elementary and Shawsville Middle.
Also, five schools received federal identification for improvement, all in relation to students with disabilities.
Under federal identification, Eastern Montgomery Elementary, Falling Branch Elementary, Prices Fork Elementary and Shawsville Middle were designated for “targeted support and improvement,” meaning one or more student groups don’t meet achievement expectations.
Christiansburg Middle was designated for “additional targeted support and improvement.” According to the presentation, this designation applies when a school that has been identified every three years under “targeted support and improvement” continues to have one or more student groups not meeting a threshold in the overall framework and academic indicators for that student group.
The report notes that the state education department will offer training sessions this month to support school divisions with federally identified schools.
The report does not include Montgomery Central in Christiansburg, which serves a small number of at-risk students in grades 8-12 from across the county.
Alternative education classroom, ESL, and search for new superintendent also on the agenda
Other notable items on the agenda include:
- A second review of an alternative education program first presented in November 2025. If adopted, it would create an alternative education classroom for grades 6-12 at Montgomery Central.
Under the plan, a student suspended for 10 days would spend the first three at home, doing online coursework. If the family agrees for the student to participate in the “forgiveness program,” the student would spend days four through six at Montgomery Central. Those who successfully complete the program would return to their regular school on day seven.
If family don’t agree for the student to participate, or if the student is disruptive at Montgomery Central, the full 10-day suspension would stand.
If approved, the program would require hiring additional staff at an estimated cost of more than $137,000. A new classroom would be built at Montgomery Central at an estimated cost of $38,000.
- A report on the division’s English as a Second Language program. It indicates that nearly 550 students are taking English as a second language. The division now employs 16 ESL teachers and two paraprofessionals; the report states that more than 20 ESL teachers are needed to meet state Standards of Quality.
- The annual organizational meeting to choose a chair and vice chair, along with approval of several board committee appointments.
- An update on the search for a new division superintendent.
You can find meeting documents at https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/mcps/Board.nsf/Public.