UPDATE: Dozens of central Va. schools win governor's award

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: January 12, 2010

A number of central Virginia public schools were among the 153 in Virginia honored today by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine with the 2010 Governor's Award for Educational Excellence.

The award is the highest honor under the Virginia Index of Performance incentive program created by the Board of Education in 2007 to advance Kaine's "competence to excellence" agenda promoting advanced learning and achievement.

In Richmond, the award went to Bellevue Elementary and Fairfield Court Elementary.

In Chesterfield County, the award went to Bettie Weaver Elementary, Bon Air Elementary, Elizabeth Scott Elementary, Evergreen Elementary, Midlothian High, Midlothian Middle, Robious Elementary, Swift Creek Elementary, Swift Creek Middle, W.W. Gordon Elementary, Winterpock Elementary and Woolridge Elementary.

In Hanover County, the award went to Chickahominy Middle, Cool Spring Elementary, Kersey Creek Elementary, Mechanicsville Elementary, Oak Knoll Middle, Pearson's Corner Elementary, Pole Green Elementary and Washington-Henry Elementary.

And in Henrico County, the award went to Colonial Trail Elementary, Echo Lake Elementary, Gayton Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, Jackson Davis Elementary, Maybeury Elementary, Nuckols Farm Elementary, Pocahontas Middle, Rivers Edge Elementary, Shady Grove Elementary, Short Pump Elementary, Short Pump Middle and Tuckahoe Elementary.

To qualify for the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence, schools and school divisions must meet all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and achieve applicable excellence goals for elementary reading, enrollment in Algebra I by eighth grade, enrollment in college-level courses, high school graduation, attainment of advanced diplomas, increased attainment of career and industry certifications, and participation in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Schools and school divisions also earn bonus points for other performance measures, including the Governor's Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard.