The annual accountability results released this week by the Virginia Department of Education aim to show families and communities how well their schools are doing.
The scores — a report card of sorts for school divisions — measure factors such as absenteeism, graduation rates, Standards of Learning test scores and college and career preparation.
Overall, more schools across Virginia met expectations this year compared to the year prior, and Southwest Virginia schools are performing particularly well, with more than 51% earning the top “distinguished” rating, out of four possible tiers.
But the scores measure a lot and can be nuanced. The data released Wednesday can offer insight into what’s happening inside local schools.
We will be reporting more on these and other topics related to public schools. Please reach out if you have experience with one of the schools mentioned below or if your school has a standout ranking in the state data and you can offer insight. Email meghan@cardinalnews.org.
1. Several schools in Southwest and Southside showed some of the strongest gains in the state.
Of schools in the top 10 at each level (elementary, middle and high), 18 were in Southwest or Southside, including five in Washington County.
Abingdon Elementary, Damascus Middle, Abingdon High, Holston High and John S. Battle High all ranked in the top 10 in score gains.
2. Only one school in far Southwest Virginia needs “intensive support.”
Every school in Virginia is ranked in one of four performance categories: distinguished, meets expectations, approaching expectations or needs intensive support.
Of 148 schools in the department’s Superintendent Region 7, which stretches west from Giles, Pulaski and Carroll counties, 89 — or 60% — were rated as distinguished following the 2025-2026 school year. Twenty schools did not meet expectations, but only one was ranked in the lowest category: Virginia Connections Academy in Scott County.
When you include Region 6, which has schools in the Roanoke and New River valleys, Danville and Martinsville, 14 of 310 total schools scored in the lowest category: three in Danville, one in Montgomery County and nine in the city of Roanoke.
3. Four high schools in our region have among the lowest graduation rates in the state.
Danville’s R.I.S.E. Academy at the John M. Langston Campus, an alternative school for students in grades six through 12, reported the eighth-lowest graduation rate in the state. Its federal four-year graduation rate was 51%; the federal rate calculates the rate for the previous year’s class, so in this case, the class of 2025.
This year’s statewide graduation rate is 89.52%
Nine of the 20 schools with the lowest graduation rates are alternative schools for students who don’t thrive in traditional school settings.
But Highland High in Highland County, Heritage High in Lynchburg and William Fleming High in Roanoke are all traditional four-year high schools and all rank in the bottom 20.
Heritage’s graduation rate is about 78%, with William Fleming’s at about 77.3% and Highland High’s at 80.9%.
Note: Virginia’s on-time graduation rate, indicated in a school’s quality profile, is separate from the federal graduation rate, which is used for accountability purposes.
4. After a year of gains, three Danville schools need “intensive support.”
Last year, Danville City Public Schools celebrated increased student performance, and this year, the division was released from state oversight due to poor school performance.
This year, three of the division’s 11 schools do not meet state expectations: Arnett Hills Elementary, Edwin A. Gibson Elementary and R.I.S.E Academy.
Last year, Edwin A. Gibson Elementary was ranked as “approaching expectations,” but it dropped to “needs intensive support” this year. Both Arnett Hills Elementary and R.I.S.E Academy are also rated as needing intensive support this year.
5. Roanoke, Lynchburg schools show some challenges.
Seventeen of Roanoke City Public Schools’ 24 schools do not meet state expectations, though some have shown growth in certain areas. Last year, the division had 19 schools that did not meet expectations — 11 that were approaching expectations (formerly called “off track”) and eight that needed intensive support.
In Lynchburg, 13 of the city’s 15 schools do not meet expectations, with eight identified as needing intensive support. Last year, the first year this new accountability framework was used, 11 Lynchburg schools did not meet expectations, with seven approaching expectations and four that needed intensive support.
Lynchburg schools spokesperson Austin Journey said in an email this week that division staff will share more information “about the division’s data, discuss the progress being made, identify areas where additional work is needed and outline the next steps for continued improvement” at the school board’s Oct. 20 meeting.
6. Some virtual schools are thriving.
Several virtual schools in Southwest Virginia showed some of the most robust growth in reading, math and graduation rates compared to similar combined or virtual schools statewide.
Radford City Virtual and Virginia Virtual Academy at Salem were both recognized in the top 5 for mastery and growth in reading, math and science, and Radford City Virtual ranked second for its four-year graduation rate.
Washington County Virtual School joined Radford’s and Salem’s virtual academies in the top 5 for lowest chronic absenteeism rates as well.
7. Chronic absenteeism rates have dropped statewide.
Chronic absenteeism remains a problem for many schools across the state, but 75% of schools statewide saw drops in how many students missed more than 18 days of school last year. (A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% of school days, which is generally 18 days.)
Four Wythe County schools — Speedwell Elementary, Rural Retreat Middle, Rural Retreat High and Fort Chiswell High — ranked among the top 5 in the region for lowest chronic absenteeism rates.
8. But chronic absenteeism persists in some localities.
Still, many schools across the region, particularly high schools, struggle with chronic absenteeism.
At least one out of every four students was considered chronically absent last year at Alleghany High in Alleghany County, E.C. Glass High in Lynchburg, Graham High in Tazewell County, Halifax County High, Heritage High in Lynchburg, Highland High in Highland County, J.I. Burton High in Norton, Patrick Henry High in Roanoke, Prince Edward County High, Richlands High in Tazewell County and William Fleming High in Roanoke.
At least one in three students was considered chronically absent at Riverview Elementary/Middle in Buchanan County, Ridgeview High in Dickenson and Dudley Primary in Tazewell County last school year.
Half of all students at R.I.S.E. Academy in Danville missed more than 10% of the 2025-26 school year.
Nearly 30% of Dickenson County Public Schools students were chronically absent last year, a drop from 40.5% during the 2023-24 school year. In Lynchburg, 21.4% of students were chronically absent, and about 19% of Roanoke City Public Schools students were chronically absent last year.
