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Nottoway Elementary School received the Virginia Board of Education’s Highest Achievement Exemplar Award for the second consecutive year.

Southampton County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Gwendolyn P. Shannon announced the honor during the Nov. 11 Southampton County School Board meeting.

Though NES Principal Susan Street was not able to be present for the meeting, Shannon said, “We wanted to recognize Nottoway Elementary School and Ms. Street’s leadership, as well as that of the teachers, parents and community.”

In a letter to Shannon, Virginia Department of Education Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Lisa Coons stated, “The announcement of the Exemplar Performance Awards provides the Virginia Board of Education the opportunity to recognize schools, school divisions or school boards for excellence in either high achievement, continuous improvement or innovative practices.”

Coons noted in the letter that to receive the 2024-25 VBOE’s Highest Achievement Award, a school must be accredited and meet the following criteria:

• The school meets the state benchmark in reading, math and science (75% for reading and 70% for math and science) based on the current-year pass rate on state assessments (not including growth or English Learner progress);
• All student groups within the school meet state benchmarks in reading and math (75% for reading and 70% for math) based on the current-year pass rate on state assessments (not including growth or English Learner progress);

– For schools with two student groups, there is no more than five percentage points between the lowest performing group and all other students in the school; or

– For schools with three or more student groups, there is no more than 10 percentage points between the lowest performing group and all other students in the school.

• School demonstrates a current-year chronic absenteeism rate of 15% or lower.

Coons concluded the letter by stating, “On behalf of the Virginia Department of Education, it is my honor to recognize the staff, students and the community for providing high expectations that have resulted in positive educational outcomes for all students.”

“This is the top award that the Virginia Department of Education offers,” Shannon said at the Nov. 11 board meeting. “(NES) received this same award last year also, so this is their second year in a row receiving this award.”

She invited everyone at the meeting to give the school, its leadership, teachers, parents, students and overall community a round of applause, which promptly followed.