Virginia Schools Reported Mixed 2025-26 Exam Results
Local families should review how shifting math and literacy scores impact school instructional focus this year.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Virginia Department of Education released 2025-26 Standards of Learning exam results, showing varied performance across several regional school divisions. While some areas saw improvements in literacy and writing, multiple districts reported declines in mathematics compared to the 2024-25 school year.
Why it matters
These results reflect an ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift toward more rigorous state standards since 2019. Districts are using this data to refine Tier 1 instruction and target specific learning needs to better support student academic progress.
Mathematics pass rates declined across four observed divisions, including King William falling to 61% and King and Queen dropping to 48%. Conversely, King and Queen saw history and social sciences pass rates rise to 65% from 52% in the 2024-25 academic year.
The players
Virginia Department of Education
The state agency responsible for overseeing public schools and maintaining the rigor of standardized academic testing.
The details
School divisions utilize these standardized test scores to identify gaps in student knowledge and adjust their curriculum accordingly. By implementing targeted strategies and focusing on core Tier 1 instruction, educators aim to bridge the performance discrepancies noted in the latest reporting cycle. This process helps administrators align classroom teaching with the increasingly rigorous state standards introduced following the 2019 baseline.
Timeline
2019 served as the pre-pandemic baseline for testing performance.
2024-25 provided the comparative academic performance data.
2025-26 represents the most recent school year for which exam results were released.
The Home Front
These results highlight a period of adjustment for local schools as they navigate higher state standards and the lasting academic impacts of the pandemic. This performance data serves as a critical benchmark for families tracking the evolution of instructional requirements in their district.
Parents should check their specific school division's latest report card to see how these general trends align with their child's school performance. Consider attending upcoming school board meetings to learn how administrators plan to implement targeted instruction strategies based on these results.
The takeaway
Understanding these test results can help you better advocate for your child and engage with your local school's academic goals. Review the annual report card for your specific school division to track changes in core subjects like math and literacy.
Further reading
For a deeper look at how local schools support learning, visit our Secondary Education section.
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Do you believe public schools in your community are providing a high quality of education?
