Abstract
All Virginians have the right to a quality education, but access to a rigorous education varies greatly by county. While 60.7% of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area has attained a postsecondary credential, 117 of Virginia’s 134 counties and metropolitan areas lag behind the national average of postsecondary educational attainment. Educational rigor is especially relevant in the post-pandemic landscape. In Virginia, 3rd through 12th grade math SOL exam pass rates for the 2023-24 academic year were 71%, which fell from the pre-pandemic average of 82% in 2018-19. Improving educational outcomes for all Virginians will bolster our commonwealth’s economy and create competitive workers for the future, and middle and high school course taking decisions are an essential crossroads where many students can set themselves up for future success.
Citation
Schoonover, N. R., & Muralidharan, A. (2025) Math course acceleration: Increasing rigor & advancing Virginia students’ post-secondary futures. UVA Center for Community Partnerships.