Education
Virginia's goal is to elevate the levels of educational preparedness and attainment of our citizens.
- Education Week (January 2007) reported that a child born in Virginia is significantly more likely to experience success throughout life than the average child born in the United States, based on a range of economic and educational measures.
- In January 2008, Education Week reported that Virginia ranks among the top five states in the overall quality of its public educational system.
- Virginia students compare favorably with their counterparts across the United States in their performance on standardized tests and successful completion of advanced coursework. Yet there is widespread agreement that current levels of educational achievement are not sufficient to sustain the state's economy and standard of living. Additional education or training beyond high school has become essential for ensuring individual success and regional prosperity.
- Virginia's Standards Of Learning (SOL) have gained national recognition for their effectiveness in advancing educational attainment and improving the performance of our schools.
- Newsweek magazine ranked 10 Virginia high schools among the nation's top 100.
- Three Virginia universities ranked among the top universities in the U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2008" report.
- Virginia's rate of graduation for bachelor's degrees is the 9th highest in the nation.
The education indicators help to assess the progress we are making, understand the key elements that influence the indicator, and clarify the role the Commonwealth is taking to improve educational preparedness and attainment.