Perrymont Middle, Community High earn full accreditation for first time

Two county schools designed to assist students who have not been successful in traditional classroom settings are now success stories of their own. For the first time, Perrymont Middle and Chesterfield Community High are fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education.

In all, 56 of 58 Chesterfield County schools are fully accredited for the 2006-07 academic year. The ratings are based on student achievement on Virginia Standards of Learning assessments in English, mathematics, history and science administered during the 2005-06 school year.

Chesterfield's total of 56 fully accredited schools matches the previous division high even as the criteria for full accreditation have increased at the state level.

"There was such excitement and joy when we found out," said Community High Principal

Jamie Accashian. "Much work went into this. We changed a lot in terms of how we were teaching and what we were teaching, but everyone came together to get it done."

"The dedication and commitment toward achieving full accreditation were visible each day at Perrymont in the work of the teachers, students and staff," said Perrymont Middle Principal Alice Rose.

Falling Creek and Salem Church middle schools are accredited with warning for 2006- 07. Falling Creek's math and history scores did not meet state standards while Salem Church's history scores were below state standards. Both schools will participate in state and local academic review processes designed to quickly improve student achievement.

Cosby High School, which opened this fall, is one of 17 new schools in the state rated as conditionally accredited.