Mayor Alonzo Jones and other members of the City Council earlier this week praised Danville Public Schools leaders for their work that has led two schools to surpass state averages in Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments.
Pass rates at Galileo Magnet High School and Forest Hills Elementary School exceeded the state average in reading, math, and science.
Three other schools saw significant increases in their pass rates over the previous year: George Washington High School (reading and math), O.T. Bonner Middle School (reading and math), Westwood Middle School (science).
In addition, several schools saw continued improvements in their reading and math scores, including Westwood, Park Avenue Elementary, Schoolfield Elementary, and Woodberry Hills Elementary.
“We received some good news today,” Jones said at Tuesday's meeting of the City Council, noting the improvements at the schools. He later added that the City Council, city manager and city staff are “working tirelessly” with the school system and “making it our number one priority.”
School Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston thanked the City Council for its commitment to education.
“We thank our teachers and staff every day, but without your support, encouragement, and investment in education – and your constant reminder that students matter, literacy and attendance rates matter, and your expression of concern and physical involvement in the lives of our children – we could not do this work,” Hairston said. “The work is paying off. We know we have more work to do, but we are headed in the right direction.”