Standards of Learning (SOL) and testing

"The commonwealth sets rigorous academic standards, known as the Standards of Learning (SOL), and measures achievement through annual SOL tests and alternative and alternate assessments. The system provides schools, school divisions and the Virginia Department of Education with critical data to inform the development and implementation of effective instructional strategies and best practices.

SOL assessments measure student achievement in English, mathematics, science and history/social science. Students are assessed in English and mathematics in grades 3-8 and at the conclusion of certain high school-level courses. SOL tests in science and history are administered in grades 3, 5 and 8 and at the end of high school-level courses in these subjects. Some students may take tests at other grade levels based on the school’s curriculum."

– Virginia Department of Education

Standards of Learning currently in effect are listed on the Virginia Department of Education website.

NNPS Division Accreditation Tables:
2002-03 |  2003-04 |  2004-05 |  2005-06 |  2006-07 |  2007-08 |  2008-09 |  2009-10 |  2010-11 |  2011-12

Released SOL Tests from VDOE

View SOL Pass Rates on Virginia School Report Cards from VDOE:

 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

What is AYP and why is it so important? Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. NCLB requires all public schools and school divisions to meet certain goals (called annual measurable objectives or AMOs) to determine if they are making “adequate progress” each year. In Virginia , these goals are determined by how students do on the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in English/reading and mathematics, the number of students tested and student attendance or graduation rate. MORE ABOUT AYP.