Virginia defines college readiness as “the level of achievement students must reach to be academically prepared for success in entry-level credit-bearing college courses.”
Source:
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Instruction: College & career readiness. Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/college_career_readiness/index.shtml
- Student achievement status on state tests
- Four-year graduation rate
- Additional graduation rates (five or more years)
- Dropout rate
- Other, such as the percentage of students earning a GED certificate
- Participation in advanced course work, including AP or IB classes or dual enrollment
- Career preparedness performance, including earning credentials or certificates, performance on WorkKeys, and grades in career and technical education courses
- Percentage of students earning an advanced diploma
- Participation of middle school students in honors, pre-AP, or high school level courses
- Participation in nutrition and physical activity program
- Students earning credits in other courses, such as world languages and physics
- School has earned certification in science, technology, engineering, and math or has students taking advanced course work in these subjects
- School offers foreign language in elementary school
Dual Enrollment and Articulation
Virginia state policy allows students to earn dual credit for academic or CTE postsecondary courses taken at their high school or a postsecondary institution. Public postsecondary institutions in the state are not required to accept dual-enrollment credits (ECS, 2015).
Early College High School
Virginia is not participating in the Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI). More information about schools participating in ECHSI is available at the ECHSI website (Jobs for the Future, n.d.).
Citations:
Education Commission of the States. (2015). Dual enrollment – all state profiles. Retrieved from http://ecs.force.com/mbdata/mbprofallRT?Rep=DE14A
Jobs for the Future. (n.d.). Schools. Retrieved from http://www.jff.org/initiatives/early-college-designs/schools
Virginia has adopted the National Career Clusters Framework and is implementing all 16 Career Clusters.
Citations:
National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. (n.d.). Virginia [Interactive map of state CTE profiles]. Retrieved from http://careertech.org/Virginia
In Virginia, the Academic and Career Plan is designed to be a working document that maximizes student achievement by having the student accomplish goals in middle and high school that lead to postsecondary and career readiness. The plan should be student-driven and maintained by school professionals working cooperatively to assist the student in reaching his or her goals in the most logical academic and career path. Virginia's Academic and Career Plan is mandated by the state. It includes all students in Grades 7–12. Academic and Career Plan implementation began in the 2013–14 school year.
U.S. Department of Labor. (2013). Individualized learning plans across the U.S. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/odep/ilp/map/#MO
High School and College Alignment |
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Subject |
High School Graduation Requirements |
College Admission Requirements |
English Credits: |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Mathematics Credits: |
3.0 (including two selected from among Algebra I; geometry; algebra, functions, and data analysis; Algebra II; and/or other mathematics courses above the level of Algebra II) |
3.0 (including Algebra I and II and geometry) |
Social Studies Credits: |
3.0 (U.S. and Virginia history [1.0], U.S. and Virginia government [1.0], and world history and/or world geography [1.0]) |
2.0 (including one history credit) |
Science Credits: |
3.0 (each with laboratory experience; selected from among Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics) |
2.0 (each with laboratory experience; selected from among biology, chemistry, or physics) |
Foreign Language Credits: |
None specified (N/S) |
N/S |
Arts Credits: |
See Additional Credits |
N/S |
Additional Credits: |
7.0 (selected from among fine or performing arts or career and technical education [1.0], and other electives [6.0]) |
7.0 (academic units [3.0] and electives [4.0]) |
Total Credits: |
22.0 |
18.0 |
Tests: |
Six Standards of Learning tests |
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or ACT® |
Source: |
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Notes: |
Virginia’s state-specific Early Warning System is called the Virginia Early Warning System (VEWS). Early Warning System data are reported at the student, school, and division levels. It is not publicly available who can access the Early Warning System data.
Citations:
Bowles Therriault, S., Heppen, J., O’Cummings, M., Fryer, L., & Johnson, A. (2010). Early warning system implementation guide. National High School Center at American Institutes for Research. Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/school_improvement/early_warning_system/materials/implementation_guide.pdf
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Virginia Early Warning System (VEWS). Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/school_improvement/early_warning_system/