County Releases Schools Report Card

Loudoun County's school system last week released two sets of test results from the 2007-08 school year: the scores of high school students w ho took the SAT and the performance of all students in meeting targets set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The average SAT scores for each high school appear in the chart below. Here are highlights of the No Child Left Behind report card, which is based on pass rates on the Virginia Standards of Learning tests taken in spring:

· The Loudoun school system as a whole made adequate yearly progress for the first time.

· Three schools failed to meet test-score benchmarks -- Seneca Ridge, J. Lupton Simpson and Sterling middle -- compared to 13 schools in 2007.

· The pass rate for elementary students rose from 87 to 91 percent i n English and from 92 to 93 percent in math.

· The pass rate for middle school students rose from 89 to 90 percent in English and from 84 to 88 percent in math.

· The pass rate for high school students dropped from 95 to 94 percent in English and from 93 to 91 percent in math.

· Groups whose performance is measured separately under the law -- black, Hispanic, disadvantaged, disabled and limited English proficiency students -- all posted gains.