Richmond School Officials Celebrate Rise in SOL Test Scores

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Officials with Richmond Public Schools (RPS) gathered at Thomas Jefferson High School Wednesday to tout that standardized test scores for students in the city improved across the board.

Standards of Learning (SOL) testing data from the 2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 shows that Richmond students improved from 39% passing to 43% in history, from 44% to 47% in math, 47% to 50% in reading and from 39% to 49% in writing.

Superintendent Jason Kamras described the improvements in SOL scores as “truly historic." Kamras credited the RPS Literacy Plan and tutors hired with funds from Governor Youngkin’s All-In Initiative.

“Today is a beautiful day, a wonderful day here at Richmond Public Schools,” Kamras said. “We are so thrilled to continue to rise here at RPS.”

While the numbers are getting better, Richmond still trails behind Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover County Public Schools.

“We were a bit ahead of the curve before the Virginia Literacy Act,” Kamras said. “We were adopting those curricula that are based on evidence and training teachers and putting them into practice. So, we’re beginning to see the returns on those investments. It takes time two, three, four or five years, but we’re beginning to see all of that happen now.”