NEW KENT COUNTY — New Kent County Public Schools recently announced that every school in the division has earned an On Track or Distinguished designation under Virginia’s new School Performance Framework, placing the division among the top-performing divisions in Region 1.
NKCPS said this achievement reflects a broader trend of improvement for the division, which has climbed from 34th to ninth statewide in Standards of Learning rankings over the past four years.
“Our continued rise in statewide testing performance and our success under the new comprehensive framework is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, and staff,” said Superintendent Brian J. Nichols. “I’m proud of the work happening every day in our schools, and we remain focused on ensuring all of our students have access to exceptional learning experiences.”
K-12 School Performance Framework
Division Highlights:
- All NKCPS schools remain fully accredited and outperform state averages in every SOL test subject area.
- NKCPS maintains an on-time graduation rate above the state average.
- Under the new framework, NKCPS schools earned the following performance levels and framework scores:
- George W. Watkins Elementary School: Distinguished (94.1)
- New Kent Elementary School: On Track (88.8)
- Quinton Elementary School: Distinguished (91.2)
- New Kent Middle School: On Track (87.9)
- New Kent High School: Distinguished (94.7)
Regional Rankings:
- NKCPS is one of only five divisions in Region 1 with every school On Track or Distinguished.
- GWES ranks among the Top 5 elementary schools in Region 1 and is third for math growth.
- QES ranks fifth in Region 1 for math growth.
- In Region 1, NKMS is fourth overall among middle schools and fifth for math growth.
- NKHS is the top high school in Region 1 for math performance.
This new framework emphasizes student achievement and growth, while accreditation now focuses on compliance with standards like staffing and funding, according to the division.
“Recognitions like this reflect what happens when our incredible educators and leaders think strategically and work together,” stated NKCPS Executive Director of Innovation and Development Ross Miller. “When we lean into innovation and support our teams, we open doors for all students to grow and thrive.”
Pre-K/Early Learning Quality Ratings
The division also received recognition for its early childhood education programs under Virginia’s Quality Birth to Five system, which measures and promotes high-quality early learning experiences:
- Quinton Elementary School earned Exceeds Expectations status and was named to the VQB5 Excellence Honor Roll for the 2024-2025 school year.
- George W. Watkins Elementary School and New Kent Elementary School both earned Meets Expectations status for their Pre-K/Early Learning programs.
“Our Pre-K team goes above and beyond every day to provide quality instruction, activities and interactions with our youngest Cubs. This team’s dedication to providing an engaging environment with instructional and emotional support every day pays off tenfold as we see our Cubs thriving throughout our school and community,” QES Principal Christine Pilger said. “It did not surprise us one bit to see them recognized for exceeding expectations. They are role models!”
NKCPS Supervisor of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Kim Lawler shared, “Our Pre-K program continues to expand and improve, and our division remains committed to providing all students with high-quality, inclusive early learning experiences. Through the Virginia Preschool Initiative and our partnership with Ready Region and Thrive Birth to Five, we currently serve more than 100 children across seven classes. Together, we are focused on nurturing each child’s social, emotional, and academic development to build a strong foundation for future success.”
The VQB5 system recognizes programs that demonstrate exceptional performance and a strong commitment to continuous quality improvement, the division said, adding it was another example of its “dedication to providing a quality education at every level.”
