High achieving and improving

The reputation of the county’s public schools often inspires families to make their home in Chesterfield County. But don’t just take our word for it: SchoolMatch, an independent research and data service, consistently rates Chesterfield County Public Schools as having precisely the balance parents seek. Chesterfield residents say they are happy with their choice: In a 2010 survey, nearly 86 percent of residents rated Chesterfield schools as excellent or good. Is it any wonder that — for the fifth time — Chesterfield County was named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance?

The school system is moving forward every day to achieve the School Board’s vision: Chesterfield County Public Schools will provide an engaging and relevant education that prepares every student to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Fast facts

• 62 schools
• 38 elementary schools (grades K-5)
• 12 middle schools (grades 6-8)
• 11 high schools (grades 9-12) that include 11 specialty centers
• 1 technical center
• 58,707 students
• 25-to-1 pupil-teacher staffing standard for elementary school, 27-to-1 for middle school, 26-to-1 for high school
• $522 million operating budget (68 percent for instruction, 11 percent to operations and maintenance, 10 percent to debt and capital improvement program reserve, 5 percent to transportation, 4 percent to administration, attendance and health and 2 percent to technology)
• $8,708 cost per student
• 7,775 full-time and part-time positions
• 6.3 million meals are served in school cafeterias each year.
• 30 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals in elementary schools, middle schools and Chesterfield Community High (the only high school in the federal lunch program).
• In 2010-11, the student body was 56 percent white, 27 percent black, 9 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian/native Hawaiian/Pacific islander, 3 percent two or more races and 0.5 percent American Indian/Alaskan native. View Student Demographics

Good steward of tax dollars

Audits consistently prove that Chesterfield schools are efficient and effective. Based on student enrollment, Chesterfield is among the country’s 100 largest school systems but still keeps costs low. In 2010, out of 132 school divisions in Virginia, Chesterfield ranked 123rd lowest in total per-pupil costs. Standard & Poor’s compared reading and math proficiency with money spent and determined that Chesterfield schools are extremely effective, ranking the school division third among
15 of Virginia’s largest localities.

Launching successful students

• All Chesterfield schools are accredited, and students continue to perform well on Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests. In fact, Chesterfield students achieved perfect scores on 9,178 SOL tests in 2010-2011.
• Six Title I schools are among the 20 Chesterfield County elementary schools to make adequate yearly progress for 2011-12. For three of the past five years, the school system has met the objectives of No Child Left Behind and made adequate yearly progress.
• More than 87 percent of Chesterfield students graduate on time, outperforming their peers across Virginia. More than 4,400 students graduated in 2011: 57 percent earned advanced diplomas, and 90 percent planned to attend a two- or four-year college. The class of 2011 earned $22.8 million in scholarships.
• Great teachers foster great students, and Chesterfield makes attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff members a priority. Working in Chesterfield schools are 1,804 teachers with master’s degrees, 89 National Board Certified Teachers and 86 employees with doctorates.
• Chesterfield’s curriculum is rigorous and relevant. Initiatives include a school readiness program for 4-year-olds at a few schools, world language instruction in some elementary schools and algebra for every student during middle school. Safety nets help struggling students reach their goals. Alternative study options include day and night programs, as well as online courses.
• Advanced Placement classes offer intense academic experiences. High school students also have the opportunity to take dual enrollment classes that carry college credit and courses that can lead to an industry certification. High school students may choose to attend their neighborhood school or they may apply to a specialty center, the technical center or two regional governor’s schools based on individual interests and talents.
• Center-based programs in elementary and middle schools help meet the needs of gifted learners, and an English for Speakers of Other Languages program reflects growing diversity in the county.
• Hundreds of businesses and organizations partner with schools, and thousands of individuals volunteer their time in classrooms.

Recognizing excellence

• Bellwood Elementary was selected as a 2011 National Title I Distinguished School for sustained achievement. Bellwood is the fifth elementary school to be honored: Beulah in 2010, Harrowgate in 2006, Chalkley in 2005 and Bensley in 2002.
• In 2012, 17 Chesterfield schools won Virginia Index of Performance awards, with three of those schools winning the highest honor, the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence.
• Clover Hill High student Abby Badura won the national Wendy’s High School Heisman in 2010, rising to the top of more than 55,000 outstanding student-athletes.
• Bailey Bridge Middle’s Misti Wajciechowski was the nation’s top health teacher in 2010.
• Linda Wood of Harrowgate Elementary won the National Distinguished Principals Award in 2011.
• The best school office manager in Virginia works at Greenfield Elementary. Carole Evans was honored in 2011.
• For two years in a row, Leslie Alderman has been recognized as Virginia’s top school bus driver and in 2011 she made the top 10 nationally.
• Grange Hall Elementary math teacher Vickie Hugate was the only Virginia teacher to win a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2011.
• The Thomas Dale High library was named Virginia’s 2011 Library Program of the Year.
• Connie Honsinger of Alberta Smith Elementary was named 2011 Elementary Counselor of the Year by the Virginia School Counselors Association.
• Chesterfield has four National Blue Ribbon Schools: James River High, Clover Hill Elementary, Robious Elementary and Grange Hall Elementary.
• Four schools have achieved National School Change Awards: Bensley Elementary, Chalkley Elementary, Harrowgate Elementary and Carver Middle.
• Chesterfield educators won three Milken National Educator Awards in four years.

Chesterfield County School Board

Chair Patricia Carpenter, Midlothian District
Vice Chair David Wyman, Dale District
Carrie Coyner, Bermuda District
Dianne Smith, Clover Hill District
Thomas Doland, Matoaca District

Superintendent

Marcus J. Newsome, Ed.D.