WASHINGTON — Fairfax County’s selective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology leads the way among individual schools with 100 percent pass rates on Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests this year, but other Northern Virginia schools are not far behind.
Even the smart students that pass all of the tests and meet requirements to attend Thomas Jefferson High do not all achieve the highest Standards of Learning mark of advanced. This year, 54 percent of the students at Thomas Jefferson scored advanced on end-of-course reading tests. That is the highest percentage of advanced scores on the test of any school in the state, ahead of Oakton High School’s 43 percent, West Springfield’s 38 percent and Langley High School’s 37 percent.
State reports say that no student scored “advanced” on the end-of-course reading test at Bryant Alternative High School, Fairfax County Adult High School and Arlington Mill High School. Even U.S. Military Academy High School, which scored high on overall pass rates, only had 1 percent of students who scored “advanced” this year on the end-of-course reading exam.
Schools that achieved a 98 percent reading pass rate were: Arlington Traditional, West Springfield High (Fairfax Co.), Spring Hill Elementary (Fairfax Co.), George Mason High School (Falls Church), John Champe High School (Loudoun).
Elementary reading
At Belmont Elementary in Prince William, just 2 percent of thirds graders scores were considered advanced on reading, and the school had the overall lowest reading pass rates of any school in Northern Virginia. The school’s 50 percent pass rate on reading tests this year represent a 4 percent improvement from last year, but the scores are still down 11 points from two years ago.
Only 23 of the 1,785 schools with reportable data had lower pass rates on reading exams. Many of the schools with the lowest pass rates are in Richmond.
Alexandria’s Jefferson-Houston Elementary is still near the bottom, but is posting improvements in reading pass rates. Jefferson-Houston is third from the bottom statewide in writing pass rates at just 28 percent (down from 45 percent in 2012-13, and 31 percent in 2013-14.
High school writing
At Thomas Jefferson High, 97 percent of students scored advanced on end-of-course writing, far ahead of the 61 percent at both Langley and McLean and 57 percent for Madison all in Fairfax County and 56 percent for Falls Church’s George Mason High School.
Middle School math
On math tests, 100 percent of Algebra II students scored advanced at Jackson, Kilmer, Longfellow and Rocky Run middle schools in Fairfax plus Farmwell Station Middle in Loudoun County. Generally, students taking that course in middle school are ahead of their peers.
Prince William’s Bull Run Middle and Fairfax County’s Franklin Middle scored high in advanced scores on geometry: 94 percent.
In fifth grade math, Key Center School in Fairfax, Arlington Science Focus School and Prince William’s Porter Traditional School have at least two-thirds of students scores were considered “advanced.”
Worst Northern Virginia English: Reading pass rates
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince William County | Fred M. Lynn Middle | 51 | 56 | 63 | 7 | 12 |
| Fairfax County | Herndon Elementary | 69 | 61 | 62 | 1 | -7 |
| Fairfax County | Mount Eagle Elementary | 53 | 56 | 62 | 6 | 9 |
| Loudoun County | Sugarland Elementary | 56 | 64 | 62 | -2 | 6 |
| Manassas City | Jennie Dean Elementary | 56 | 57 | 62 | 5 | 6 |
| Prince William County | Yorkshire Elementary | 58 | 57 | 62 | 5 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Braddock Elementary | 67 | 52 | 61 | 9 | -6 |
| Alexandria City | Francis C. Hammond Middle | 60 | 60 | 60 | ||
| Fairfax County | Graham Road Elementary | 71 | 57 | 60 | 3 | -11 |
| Fairfax County | Woodley Hills Elementary | 58 | 57 | 59 | 2 | 1 |
| Alexandria City | Jefferson-Houston Elementary | 41 | 45 | 57 | 12 | 16 |
| Prince William County | Belmont Elementary | 61 | 46 | 50 | 4 | -11 |
Best Northern Virginia English: Reading pass rates
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | Arlington Traditional | 99 | 99 | 100 | 1 | 1 |
| Arlington County | McKinley Elementary | 98 | 99 | 100 | 1 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Fairfax County | Wolftrap Elementary | 98 | 95 | 100 | 5 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Wakefield Forest Elementary | 97 | 96 | 100 | 4 | 3 |
| Fairfax County | Forestville Elementary | 96 | 96 | 100 | 4 | 4 |
| Fauquier County | P.B. Smith Elementary | 95 | 96 | 100 | 4 | 5 |
| Loudoun County | Emerick Elementary | 98 | 99 | 100 | 1 | 2 |
| Loudoun County | Lowes Island Elementary | 98 | 98 | 100 | 2 | 2 |
| Loudoun County | Pinebrook Elementary | 95 | 99 | 100 | 1 | 5 |
| Culpeper County | Yowell Elementary | 94 | 90 | 99 | 9 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Great Falls Elementary | 100 | 99 | 99 | 0 | -1 |
| Fairfax County | Carson Middle | 98 | 97 | 99 | 2 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Colvin Run Elementary | 97 | 99 | 99 | 0 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Lake Anne Elementary | 89 | 96 | 99 | 3 | 10 |
| Fairfax County | Belvedere Elementary | 86 | 90 | 99 | 9 | 13 |
| Loudoun County | Little River Elementary | 98 | 98 | 99 | 1 | 1 |
| Loudoun County | Countryside Elementary | 94 | 94 | 99 | 5 | 5 |
| Prince William County | A. Henderson Elementary | 97 | 97 | 99 | 2 | 2 |
History and social sciences worst pass rates in Northern Virginia
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Lynbrook Elementary | 65 | 69 | 58 | -11 | -7 |
| Manassas City | Jennie Dean Elementary | 83 | 81 | 58 | -23 | -25 |
| Fairfax County | Groveton Elementary | 76 | 77 | 56 | -21 | -20 |
| Fairfax County | Beech Tree Elementary | 62 | 70 | 56 | -14 | -6 |
| Fairfax County | Sleepy Hollow Elementary | 85 | 77 | 54 | -23 | -31 |
| Fairfax County | Herndon Elementary | 72 | 63 | 54 | -9 | -18 |
| Fairfax County | Braddock Elementary | 67 | 72 | 54 | -18 | -13 |
| Fairfax County | Hutchison Elementary | 46 | 59 | 52 | -7 | 6 |
| Alexandria City | Jefferson-Houston Elementary | 50 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences | 60 | 90 | 48 | -42 | -12 |
A number of other Northern Virginia schools have pass rates above 95 percent in history and social sciences.
History and social sciences best pass rates in Northern Virginia
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Fairfax County | Haycock Elementary | 96 | 96 | 98 | 2 | 2 |
| Arlington County | Arlington Traditional | 92 | 96 | 97 | 1 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Spring Hill Elementary | 94 | 95 | 97 | 2 | 3 |
| Fairfax County | Carson Middle | 95 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Longfellow Middle | 95 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Floris Elementary | 94 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Chesterbrook Elementary | 92 | 95 | 96 | 1 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Keene Mill Elementary | 92 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Churchill Road Elementary | 91 | 93 | 96 | 3 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Willow Springs Elementary | 91 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Forestville Elementary | 89 | 92 | 96 | 4 | 7 |
| Fairfax County | Springfield Estates Elementary | 87 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 9 |
| Loudoun County | J. Michael Lunsford Middle | 85 | 90 | 96 | 6 | 11 |
| Prince William County | Mary G. Porter Traditional | 90 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 6 |
Math (combined, all tests) best pass rates in Northern Virginia
15 Improvement
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to | 2013 to 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Fairfax County | Haycock Elementary | 96 | 96 | 98 | 2 | 2 |
| Arlington County | Arlington Traditional | 92 | 96 | 97 | 1 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Spring Hill Elementary | 94 | 95 | 97 | 2 | 3 |
| Fairfax County | Carson Middle | 95 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Longfellow Middle | 95 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Floris Elementary | 94 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Chesterbrook Elementary | 92 | 95 | 96 | 1 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Keene Mill Elementary | 92 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Churchill Road Elementary | 91 | 93 | 96 | 3 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Willow Springs Elementary | 91 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Forestville Elementary | 89 | 92 | 96 | 4 | 7 |
| Fairfax County | Springfield Estates Elementary | 87 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 9 |
| Loudoun County | J. Michael Lunsford Middle | 85 | 90 | 96 | 6 | 11 |
| Prince William County | Mary G. Porter Traditional | 90 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 6 |
A number of other schools have 90 to 95 percent pass rates.
Schools in Richmond, Abermarle County, Brunswick County, Lynchburg and Newport News have the lowest math pass rates.
Math (combined, all tests) worst pass rates in Northern Virginia
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Braddock Elementary | 65 | 60 | 59 | -1 | -6 |
| Fairfax County | Cameron Elementary | 59 | 48 | 59 | 11 | 0 |
| Fairfax County | Herndon Elementary | 59 | 56 | 59 | 3 | 0 |
| Manassas Park City | Manassas Park High | 48 | 72 | 59 | -13 | 11 |
| Alexandria City | Jefferson-Houston Elementary | 50 | 40 | 58 | 18 | 8 |
| Fairfax County | Mount Vernon Woods Elementary | 53 | 54 | 57 | 3 | 4 |
| Prince William County | Belmont Elementary | 74 | 57 | 55 | -2 | -19 |
| Alexandria City | William Ramsay Elementary | 50 | 46 | 52 | 6 | 2 |
Science best pass rates in Northern Virginia
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| Fairfax County | Waynewood Elementary | 90 | 89 | 100 | 11 | 10 |
| Fairfax County | Churchill Road Elementary | 97 | 98 | 98 | 0 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Sherman Elementary | 92 | 94 | 98 | 4 | 6 |
| Fauquier County | W.G. Coleman Elementary | 93 | 87 | 98 | 11 | 5 |
| Fairfax County | Rocky Run Middle | 98 | 95 | 97 | 2 | -1 |
| Fairfax County | Spring Hill Elementary | 94 | 98 | 97 | -1 | 3 |
| Arlington County | McKinley Elementary | 97 | 91 | 96 | 5 | -1 |
| Arlington County | Tuckahoe Elementary | 95 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 1 |
| Arlington County | Jamestown Elementary | 94 | 97 | 96 | -1 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Archer Elementary | 98 | 92 | 96 | 4 | -2 |
| Fairfax County | Chesterbrook Elementary | 97 | 96 | 96 | 0 | -1 |
| Fairfax County | Langley High | 97 | 97 | 96 | -1 | -1 |
| Fairfax County | West Springfield High | 96 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 0 |
| Fairfax County | Greenbriar West Elementary | 95 | 97 | 96 | -1 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Longfellow Middle | 95 | 93 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| Fairfax County | Floris Elementary | 94 | 95 | 96 | 1 | 2 |
| Fairfax County | Westbriar Elementary | 92 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Willow Springs Elementary | 92 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 4 |
| Fairfax County | Key Center School | 86 | 90 | 96 | 6 | 10 |
| Loudoun County | Stone Bridge High | 93 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 3 |
| Loudoun County | Farmwell Station Middle | 91 | 93 | 96 | 3 | 5 |
| Prince William County | Mary G. Porter Traditional | 96 | 95 | 96 | 1 | 0 |
| Prince William County | Thurgood Marshall Elementary | 96 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 0 |
| Prince William County | Patriot High | 94 | 94 | 96 | 2 | 2 |
| Prince William County | T. Clay Wood Elementary | 93 | 92 | 96 | 4 | 3 |
| Stafford County | Mountain View High | 93 | 93 | 96 | 3 | 3 |
There are other Northern Virginia schools in the 90 percent or higher range for pass rates on science. Schools in Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg and Frederick County’s Stonewall Elementary rank near the bottom.
Science worst pass rates in Northern Virginia
| DIVISION | SCHOOL | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | Improvement 2014 to 2015 | Improvement 2013 to 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Braddock Elementary | 61 | 58 | 48 | -10 | -13 |
| Fairfax County | Westlawn Elementary | 61 | 61 | 48 | -13 | -13 |
| Stafford County | Falmouth Elementary | 71 | 72 | 48 | -24 | -23 |
| Fairfax County | Riverside Elementary | 60 | 64 | 47 | -17 | -13 |
| Fairfax County | Lynbrook Elementary | 48 | 51 | 44 | -7 | -4 |
| Arlington County | Randolph Elementary | 67 | 62 | 43 | -19 | -24 |
| Fairfax County | Saratoga Elementary | 60 | 57 | 43 | -14 | -17 |
| Fairfax County | Mount Eagle Elementary | 52 | 59 | 43 | -16 | -9 |
| Prince William County | Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary | 57 | 53 | 36 | -17 | -21 |
| Fairfax County | Fairfax County Adult High | 80 | 69 | 35 | -34 | -45 |
