Staunton City Schools is seeing significant improvement, ranking below one-third of Virginia schools in student achievement

STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – Staunton City Schools (SCS) is celebrating a significant achievement as all schools in the district are now fully accredited based on the Virginia Department of Education's 2023-2024 SOL data.

Over the past six years, SCS has risen 62 spots in the state rankings, from No. 105 to No. 43, placing it among the top third of Virginia school divisions. Assistant Director of Instruction Stephanie Haskins attributes this progress to the hard work and dedication of SCS staff.

“Making academic success our ultimate goal was critical to us,” Haskins said. The district also saw improvements in reading, math and science, with overall pass rates increasing significantly in all subjects.

Superintendent Garett Smith says that despite having a higher poverty rate than most school divisions in the commonwealth, SCS exceeds the state average for economically disadvantaged students in all subjects. Smith emphasized the district's commitment to equity and high expectations for all students.

“We aim high and believe equity in schools is achieved by providing great teaching in every classroom,” Smith said.

Despite these successes, Shelburne Middle School continues to face challenges, particularly in supporting students with disabilities. Dr. Smith emphasized that while the school has exceeded the accreditation benchmark for all students, there is still much work to be done.

“Our students with disabilities are not performing as well as we would like…The lack of pull-out learning spaces has been a barrier,” Smith explained.

In August, the Staunton City School Board appealed to the Staunton City Council to approve bond financing for subsequent phases of renovations at Shelburne Middle School, which would allow for more classroom and recreational space. The Staunton City Council has since rejected the request for bond financing for SCS.

Looking forward, SCS is focused on improving support for students with disabilities and preparing for new state standards in English and math.

“We try to stay ahead of the curve…and make sure our teachers and staff are prepared for these changes,” noted Dr. Smith.

Additionally, the school division has made significant progress and the overall graduation rate is 93%. Dr. Smith also says the department is developing partnerships that would provide graduate workforce development training.

SCS believes that fostering a collaborative environment and investing in professional development ensures every student has the resources and support they need for academic success.

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