Virginia
Virginia school system ranked 9th best in US. Here’s why.
WASHINGTON – Virginia’s school system is one of the best in the country, according to a new report by WalletHub.
The personal-finance website released its 2024 report on the best and worst school systems across the U.S. this week. Virginia secured the ninth position nationally, down from fifth in 2023.
The report compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key measures of quality and safety, including pupil-teacher ratio, dropout rate, and median standardized-test scores.
Maryland and Virginia schools introducing new grading policies
School districts from Maryland to Virginia are reminding students and parents about grading policy changes going into effect this school year. The new rules regarding grades will impact students from Montgomery County to Fairfax County. FOX 5’s Tisha Lewis reports from Falls Church with more.
According to the study, Virginia performs well in ensuring that low-income students graduate from high school, ranking 13th nationally.
The rankings show the state is positioned for positive growth in high school graduation rates over the next decade.
While math scores are decent at number 15th, there’s room for improvement in reading, which ranks 28th, according to the report. Virginia excels in preparing students for AP exams, ranking tenth in the U.S.
The state ranked 18th nationally for pupil-teacher ratio, with numbers indicating a reasonable balance between student enrollment and teacher availability.
Virginia also ranks well in terms of safety, with low incidence rates of violence, bullying, and threats. The state also has a high percentage of parents who believe their children attend safe schools.
FULL REPORT: States with the Best & Worst School Systems (2024)
The holiday travel season is nearly upon us and Virginia State Police is asking everyone to buckle up every time you enter a vehicle. During the last two Thanksgiving holidays, more than half of the fatal crashes involved someone not wearing a seatbelt, or seatbelt use could not be determined. Last year, there were eight fatalities, and in only two crashes could it be determined that the crash victim was wearing a seatbelt (there was one fatal crash on a motorcycle in 2024).*
Virginia law changed this year to require everyone in a vehicle, no matter where they are seated, to be appropriately restrained. Previously, only those under the age of 18, and those in the front seat, had to wear a seatbelt or be in an age-appropriate restraint.
“As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how quickly a family can be changed forever. My son Christopher was just 18 when he was killed in a crash where a seat belt could have saved his life. That loss is why we advocated the new Christopher King Seat Belt Law — to honor him by protecting others,” said Christy King, founder of the Christopher King Foundation, and one of the proponents of the new seatbelt law. “We urge every Virginian to please buckle up, every trip, every time. It’s the simplest act of love you can give your family this holiday season.”
“We want Virginians to spend time with their families this Thanksgiving,” said Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “We also want them to get to their destination and back home safely. We are asking everyone to please buckle up, as well as driver sober, distraction-free, and under the speed limit this holiday.”
Virginia State Police’s Thanksgiving efforts coincide with the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) winter holidays DUI-prevention campaign. Both are educational and enforcement-oriented traffic safety initiatives aimed at saving lives on Virginia’s highways through increased usage of seat belts and the deterrence of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Virginia State Police will be, once again, participating in Operation C.A.R.E. – Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort. State troopers will be increasing their presence on Virginia’s roads during the five-day holiday statistical counting period. The period starts at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, and runs through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.
The 2024 Thanksgiving Holiday CARE initiative led to troopers citing 404 people for not wearing a seatbelt and writing 116 citations for child restraint violations. Seventy-seven people were arrested for
Driving Under the Influence. Three-thousand-six-hundred-thirty-eight (3,638) drivers were cited for speeding, and over 1,700 drivers were cited for reckless driving.
Overall, state troopers responded to 1,182 crashes, 129 of which resulted in injuries.
Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.
After an impressive inaugural season, The Saint James Performance Academy has a spot in the latest High School on SI Virginia Top 25 poll.
St James, which debuts at No. 9, posted an 8-1 mark, only losing to national No. 1 Saint Frances Academy (Md.) in its season finale. St. James posted a win over perennial Maryland powerhouse Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Thomas Dale also joins the Top 25 at No. 22 after eliminating then-No. 14 Manchester in the Virginia Class 6 Region A playoffs. Thomas Dale (10-1) next plays at No. 1 Oscar Smith in the region final Friday.
Oscar Smith, in pursuit of a second straight Virginia Class 6 state title, is followed by Maury, Varina, Green Run and King’s Fork. Huguenot, Benedictine College Prep, Saint James and Louisa County make up the rest of the Top 10.
Here’s this week’s High School on SI Virginia football Top 25:
Previous rank: No. 1
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated Lloyd C. Bird, 50-0, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. No. 22 Thomas Dale, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 2
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Warwick, 42-10, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal
This week: at No. 5 King’s Fork, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 3
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated then-No. 13 Dinwiddie, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 7 Huguenot, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 4
Record: 11-0
Last week: Defeated Salem-Virginia Beach, 28-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. No. 13 Indian River, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 5
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Bethel, 45-28, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 2 Maury, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 6
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated John Champe, 41-0, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal
This week: vs. No. 14 RIverbend, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 8
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated then-No. 7 Louisa County, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 3 Varina, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 10
Record: 11-1
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I CHAMPION
Previous rank: Not ranked
Record: 8-1
SEASON COMPLETE
Previous rank: No. 7
Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to then-No. 8 Huguenot, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 11
Record: 9-2
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I FINALIST
Previous rank: No. 12
Record: 12-0
Last week: Defeated Thomas Jefferson-Richmond, 20-13, Virginia Class 2 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. Poquoson, Virginia Class 2 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 15
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated Cox, 42-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal
This week: at No. 4 Green Run, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 17
Record: 11-0
Last week: Defeated Potomac Falls, 56-6, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal
This week: at No. 6 Stone Bridge, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 13
Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to No. 3 Varina, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 16
Record: 9-3
Last week: Defeated William Fleming, 37-7, Virginia Class 5 Region C semifinal
This week: vs. Hermitage, Virginia Class 5 Region C final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 18
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Smithfield, 35-6, Virginia Class 4 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. Phoebus, Virginia Class 4 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 19
Record: 7-2
SEASON COMPLETE
Previous rank: No. 21
Record: 9-2
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION II CHAMPION
Previous rank: No. 23
Record: 9-2
Last week: Defeated Fairfax, 28-7, Virginia Class 6 Region C semifinal
This week: vs. Lake Braddock, Virginia Class 6 Region C final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 24
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated then-No. 9 Battlefield, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 23 Woodbridge, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: Not ranked
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated then-No. 14 Manchester, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
This week: at No. 1 Oscar Smith, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 25
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Colonial Forge, 35-34, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
This week: at No. 21 North Stafford, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 9
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost to then-No. 24 North Stafford, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 14
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost to Thomas Dale, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION A SEMIFINALIST
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