The school year may be just beginning for Virginia’s students, but for state education leaders, district administrators, and those interested in student performance, today marks the end of the just-completed school year.
This morning, the Virginia Department of Education released the SOL test scores for the 2025-2026 academic year. In coming days, the Virginia Free Press will be delivering expert insights into these ratings and scores.
Today, we provide an overview of the results as reported by the Virginia Department of Education, and a quick guide to how to see results. VFP will have more extensive reporting on the results and what they mean in coming days.
What Was Released Today?
The Virginia Department of Education today released the SOL test results for 2025-2026. This is the raw data upon which later reporting about accreditation will be released.
Can I see my school’s test scores?
Yes. But it requires a bit of work.
To see test results, go to the Annual Statewide Assessment Result Build-A-Table page. From there, set the parameters for the search:
- School year and report level (school, district, state)
- Student characteristics (race, gender, grade)
- Reporting categories (disadvantaged, English learner, migrant, homeless, military connected, foster care, disabled)
- Test and subject
- Statistics to display (total count, pass rate, pass proficient rate, etc.)
What are the major takeaways?
In a press release issued today by the Virginia Department of Education, students experienced “incremental increases in pass rates” in both reading (0.4 percentage points) and math (also 0.4 percentage points) proficiency from the prior school year.
The increases, per the press release, were “shared broadly across divisions, grade level tests and student groups” and were part of the ongoing post-pandemic recovery. Over the past five years, Virginia students have increased reading proficiency by 5 percentage points, and math proficiency by 19 percentage points.
“Today’s statewide assessment results reflect progress in our classrooms, with combined math and reading scores of students in grades 3–8 rising slightly across the state,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Jeffery Smith. “Behind the numbers are the dedicated efforts of thousands of students, educators, and families working hard every day to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy skills. We also know that a lot of hard work is ahead of us, and I am convinced that together, we will continue to address learning gaps.”
Achievement gaps are a stubborn reality in public education. The 2025-2026 results had a bit of encouraging news. Most student groups saw modest gains as well. In reading, economically disadvantaged students, English learners, Black students, and Hispanic students improved at a rate greater than the statewide increase of 0.4 percentage points. Despite those gains, substantial differences in academic performance among student groups remain, underscoring the need for continued attention and resources to help more students meet Virginia’s academic standards.
Some districts did stand out in today’s release:
- 5-point gain in reading: Alleghany Highlands, Giles, and Rockingham
- 5-point gain in math: Accomack, Alexandria, Amelia, Bland, Clarke, Cumberland, Danville, Fredericksburg, Lexington, and Middlesex
- 3-point gain in both reading and math: Accomack, Bland, Clarke, Danville, Dickenson, Goochland, Henry, Lunenburg, and Rockingham
For grades 3-8, 72 percent of students passed the reading SOLs. And 69 percent passed the math SOLs.
What to Watch
School districts frequently report out results to local media about their district’s performance. They also will often post information about the SOL results on their website.
