SOL scores dip statewide and in Henrico, as expected

Pass rates among Henrico County Public Schools students from 2021 testing were lower than the state average in every test category.

This year’s Standards of Learning scores will not have any bearing on schools’ accreditation, however; all schools will have their accreditations waived this upcoming school year. Usually, state test scores along with absenteeism rates, opportunity gaps and year-over-year improvements factor into a school’s level of accreditation.

Statewide, 69% of students passed English reading tests in spring 2021; in Henrico County, 63% passed.

“Clearly the scores from last year, in general, are not where we want them to be,” said Andy Jenks, HCPS spokesman. “But let’s not overlook the enormous efforts of our students, teachers, school support systems and families who worked so passionately and creatively last year to achieve their best under unprecedented circumstances. Furthermore, as a school division we’re less focused on the aggregate percentages than we are about the individual stories behind each result.”

In the 2018-2019 school year, which was the last year before this spring that SOLs were administered, 78% of students statewide passed the reading tests and 76% in Henrico County passed.

Comparing scores to prior years would be “inappropriate” the VDOE said in a press release, because “last year was not a normal school year for students and teachers...”

About 54% of students statewide passed the math tests this spring, and in Henrico, 48% passed. In the 2018-2019 school year, about 82% passed across Virginia and in Henrico County, 81% passed.

On science assessments, which are taken by students in grades 5 and 8 and at the end of secondary courses, Henrico scored below the state by one percentage point with a 58% pass rate. In the 2018-2019 science assessments, Henrico scored one percentage point above the state average with an 82% pass rate.

“Virginia’s 2020-2021 SOL test scores tell us what we already knew—students need to be in the classroom without disruption to learn effectively,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane in a prepared statement. “The connections, structures, and supports our school communities provide are irreplaceable, and many students did not have access to in person instruction for the full academic year. We must now focus on unfinished learning and acceleration to mitigate the impact the pandemic has had on student results.”

Scores from history and writing tests were not reported by the VDOE because schools had the option to administer local assessments in place of SOLs for those subjects.

Families had the option to opt out of testing this spring. Statewide, 75.5% of students took the reading assessment, 78.7% took math and 80% took science. In most years when testing is mandatory, participation rates are around 99%.

In Henrico County, participation rates were lower with 65% in reading, 69% in math, and 74% in science for the 2021 assessments. However, there was great variability among schools. For the 2018-19 school year, HCPS’  participation rate in reading was 99% in reading, math and science.

In each testing category, pass rates were lower both on the state level and in HCPS among Black students, Hispanic students, and those who are economically disadvantaged, have disabilities, or are English learners.

On reading assessments, pass rates for Black students were 54% statewide and 46% in Henrico. For Hispanic students, the VDOE reported a 54% pass rate statewide and a 45% pass rate in Henrico. For students with disabilities, 40% statewide passed reading tests and 32% in Henrico passed. About 54% of economically disadvantaged students statewide passed reading tests, and 45% in HCPS passed. English learners in Henrico scored higher than the state average, with 27% passing locally compared to a 24% pass rate statewide.

“This year our focus will continue to be on the unique needs of each student,” Jenks said. “Knowing that, our schools can provide the necessary supports that each student and family needs in order to achieve the level of academic success that we all want for our students.”

Students didn’t take SOL tests in spring 2020 because the U.S. Department of Education waived federally required tests, and Virginia canceled state testing. This year’s tests were the first state assessments administered in two years.

In pre-pandemic years, tests factor into school accreditation, but the scores generally don’t affect elementary and middle school students’ advancement to the next grade level.

“What matters now is where we go from here, and we will use the data from the SOL’s to identify the unique needs of every learner as our schools resume in-person instruction for all students,” Lane said in a prepared statement.

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Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen's education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar.