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The numbers keep looking good for Charlotte County Public Schools. In fact, it’s fair to say that Charlotte stands in multiple areas as a Top 25 district in the state. With everything added together, from pass rates to graduation rates and absenteeism, the district ranks 21 out of the 131 school districts in Virginia. 

The Charlotte County Public Schools data

When it comes to pass rates on the state Standard of Learning (SOL) tests, Charlotte County overall improved this year from 78% of students to 84.4% passing. That puts the county first in Region 8 and 31st statewide. 

Charlotte has a record to maintain at this point. The district has been fully accredited without conditions since 2019, excelling in the classroom and beating multiple state standards. Even the graduation rates, it’s worth pointing out, are rising. In 2023, 82.7% of students graduated on time. This time, that number climbed to 89.9%. 

“We are extremely proud of the hard work of our teachers and students,” said Duffie Jones. She works as Director of Instruction for Charlotte County Public Schools. “Our teachers hold high expectations for all students, and our students rise to those expectations each and every day.” 

Other statistics were equally impressive. Math results in the county had a pass rate of 86%, as we reported last month. Now with all the counties reporting, that number was good enough for first in Region 8 for the third consecutive year and 19th in the state. 

‘Our students continue to defy expectations’ 

“Our students continue to defy expectations, particularly given the challenges posed by high poverty rates,” Jones noted. “Despite these obstacles, we’ve consistently performed well on the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, a testament to the dedication of our educators, the hard work of our students, and our parents who work with us to reinforce lessons taught at school.” 

Charlotte also excelled in science and history, ranking first in Region 8 for both subjects and earning state rankings of 28th and 16th, respectively. Additionally, the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program saw 210 industry certifications or state licenses earned, with 86% of seniors completing the CTE program. 

However, Jones acknowledged that there are still areas to improve. 

“We know achievement gaps remain and are committed to addressing those. We need to work toward improving our outcomes for all student subgroups so that they mirror our overall pass rates,” Jones said. 

She said the district has implemented a series of strategies to improve student outcomes, including administering nine-week benchmark assessments in core subjects and offering both in-school and after-school remediation services. Teachers also collaborate across grade levels to share successful instructional strategies and analyze student performance data.

What about absences? 

In the district, chronic absenteeism also dramatically dropped, going from 24% overall last year to 17% this time around. Overall, Charlotte County took a different approach than those districts around it. In Prince Edward, school officials put up posters and had students make videos, warning of the dangers of being absent. Then in Buckingham, notes were sent home to parents. In Charlotte County, however, and specifically at Randolph-Henry High, officials rewarded good behavior rather than just focus on the negative portion. And the numbers don’t lie. This way is working. 

In the data released Monday, Sept. 30, Randolph-Henry’s chronic absenteeism rate stood at 18.94%. That’s down from 26.64% at the same time last year. It’s basically an incentives program, where if students show up every day, they earn rewards. 

One example came last April. The rule was simple. Any student that maintained “exceptional attendance”, which is two or fewer absences, got two things. First, a ticket to the Durham Bulls AAA minor league baseball game. Second, they got a boxed lunch to eat at the game. And out of that group, four students had their names drawn, receiving $25 each to spend in the team’s gift shop.
In 2023 when Randolph-Henry staff tried this, only 60 kids qualified. This time around, the group took an estimated 100, nearly doubling the number. 
But the program is not just about incentives. Part of it involves making sure students have what they need at school. The goal is to eliminate any obstacles to success. That means giving a free breakfast and lunch to all students, stocking a student supply cart in the halls, maintaining a Statesmen Care program for hygiene items in the restrooms and keeping a student success clothes closet on site for students who need clothes. 

The data matches up

That’s something the state task force looking into chronic absenteeism found as well. If you provide free meals, and give students the things many of them may be lacking at home, those schools have seen a reduction of absenteeism by 6%. This program helps reduce the stigma of hunger and provides a need for students. This guarantees at least two of the three daily meals. 

But the incentives do help. If a student has two or fewer absences during a grading period, there are different benefits. Last October, for example, students who qualified were invited to an outdoor movie night on the front lawn of the school, with free pizza and popcorn. Last December, students that qualified got a special lunch, catered by the Fishin’ Pig, accompanied by live music and some games in the gym. 

Looking ahead for Charlotte County Public Schools

As the district celebrates its ranking, Jones emphasized the collective effort behind this achievement. 

“It’s a true testament to the dedication and perseverance of our educators, students, and the entire Charlotte County community,” she said.