by James C. Sherlock
We often, because it is important, concentrate on what is not working in Virginia’s state and local governments. Occasionally it is equally important to congratulate the winners.
In this report I will list Virginia’s best-attended school divisions in 2021-21, both by all students and by sub-groups.
You will be surprised by some of the winners.
These rankings offer crucial measures of school division effectiveness and reflect the efforts and values of students, families and teachers.
These top ten and ties, or fewer with smaller sub-groups of students, will be listed with the best-attended first. I have used low chronic absenteeism as the measure of effectiveness.
I understand that there are multiple reasons for chronic absenteeism, and do not try to analyze them here. Those divisions with a sub-group population with too few members to provide a number in state data were not considered.
All Students. State average chronic absenteeism: 20%. Total students 1,218,651.
- Lexington City – 7%
- Botetourt County – 8%
- Falls Church City – 8%
- Hanover County – 8%
- Radford City – 9%
- Arlington County 9%
- Louisa County – 11%
- Colonial Beach – 13%
- Goochland County – 13%
- Loudoun County – 13%
- Poquoson City – 13%
- York County – 13%
Asian Students.
State average chronic absenteeism: 11%. There were over 92,000 Asian students in Virginia public schools in 2021-22.
- Allegheny County – 0%
- King and Queen County – 0%
- Essex County – 2%
- Accomack County – 3%
- Louisa County – 3%
- Radford City – 3%
- Prince Edward County – 3%
- Pulaski County – 4%
- Greene County – 4%
- Montgomery County – 5%
- West Point – 5%
- Wythe County – 5%
- Fauquier County – 5%
Black Students.
State average chronic absenteeism: 25%. There were 263,295 Black students.
- Giles County – 2%
- Falls Church City – 7%
- Patrick County – 8%
- Botetourt County – 10%
- Radford City – 10%
- West Point – 10%
- Hanover County – 11%
- Loudoun County – 11%
- Manassas Park City – 12%
- Louisa County – 12%
Economically Disadvantaged.
State average chronic absenteeism: 30%. There were 533,182 economically disadvantaged students.
- Lexington City – 14%
- Arlington County – 16%
- Falls Church City – 16%
- Louisa County – 16%
- Colonial Beach – 16%
- Hanover County – 17%
- Botetourt County – 17%
- Carroll County – 18%
- Colonial Heights City – 18%
- Grayson County – 19%
English Learners.
State average chronic absenteeism: 23%. There were 168,625 English learners.
- Matthews County – 6%
- Louisa County – 7%
- Lexington City – 10%
- Lunenburg County – 10%
- Sussex County – 10%
- Washington County – 10%
- Carroll County – 10%
- Bristol City – 11%
- Hampton City – 11%
- Accomack County – 12%
- Powhatan County – 12%
Female and Male.
State average chronic absenteeism: both 20%
Hispanic. State average chronic absenteeism: 25%. There were 221,852 Hispanic students.
- Giles County – 5%
- Radford City – 9%
- Poquoson City – 9%
- Lunenburg County – 9%
- Louisa County – 11%
- King and Queen County – 12%
- Richmond County – 12%
- Hanover County – 13%
- Greene County – 13%
- Accomack County – 14%
White.
State average chronic absenteeism: 17%. There were 557,442 white students in Virginia public schools in 2021-22.
- Lexington City – 5%
- Arlington County – 5%
- Falls Church City – 7%
- Hanover County – 7%
- Botetourt County – 8%
- Louisa County – 9%
- Radford City – 9%
- Charlottesville City – 10%
- Loudoun County – 11%
- Fairfax County – 11%
Multiple Races.
State average chronic absenteeism: 20%. There were 78,793 multiple race students.
- Giles County – 4%
- Arlington County – 5%
- Falls Church City – 6%
- Radford City – 7%
- Grayson County – 10%
- Botetourt County – 11%
- Loudoun County – 11%
- Colonial Beach – 11%
Students with Disabilities.
State average chronic absenteeism: 27%. There were 166,439 students with disabilities.
- Lexington City – 11%
- Colonial Beach – 11%
- Falls Church City – 13%
- Botetourt County – 13%
- Hanover County – 15%
- Louisa County – 16%
- Arlington County – 17%
- Carroll County – 19%
- Richmond County – 19%
- Loudoun County – 19%
- Gloucester County – 19%
- Accomack County – 19%
American Indian.
State average chronic absenteeism: 25%
There were only a little over 3,000 students of American Indian heritage registered in Virginia public schools in 2021-22. The top five divisions in attendance percentage each had less than 30 students in that sub-group.
Of the 21 divisions with more than 25 American Indian heritage students, the four with the lowest chronic absenteeism were:
- King William – 10%
- Roanoke City – 18%
- Chesterfield County – 19%
- Loudoun County – 20%
Homeless.
State average chronic absenteeism: 51%
With almost 12,000 homeless students statewide, the 43 divisions with at least 50 homeless students and the lowest chronic absenteeism among that population were:
- Patrick County – 24%
- Washington County – 30%
- Henry County – 31%
- Wise County – 36%
- Loudoun County – 36%
- Augusta County – 37%
Special congratulations to Loudoun County Pubic Schools for making that list with nearly three times (1,568) the number of homeless students as the next most populous division in that sub-group, Prince William County (605).
Native Hawaiian. State average chronic absenteeism: 20%
There were fewer than than 2,000 native Hawaiian students in Virginia public schools. They were concentrated in Northern Virginia and South Hampton Roads. Outside of those areas only Chesterfield (109) and Spotsylvania (50) Counties had 50 or more native Hawaiian students.
Virginia Beach (322) has the most.
Of particular note in low chronic absenteeism were:
- Loudoun County – 12%
- Virginia Beach – 15%
- Norfolk City – 15%
- Prince William County – 15%
Bottom Line.
There were a lot of people in those divisions and among their families and students who put in a lot of effort to achieve those results.
Woody Allen was right.
Congratulations.
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