Martinsville City Public Schools are fully accredited for the ninth consecutive year, continuing nearly a decade of steady growth and success under Virginia's accreditation standards.
Last week, the Virginia Department of Education released school-level results from its new School Performance and Support Framework, uses multiple state measures to provide a snapshot of school performance. Under the new framework, Martinsville High School earned a "Distinguished" rating, meaning it exceeded state expectations, and Martinsville Middle School was rated "On Track," indicating it met expectations. The division's two elementary schools were rated "Needs Intensive Support."
"We are proud to celebrate nine straight years of full accreditation across our division, as well as the recognition our high school and middle school received under this new accountability system,” said Dr. Angilee Downing, assistant superintendent of instruction for Martinsville City Public Schools. “At the same time, we acknowledge the ‘Needs Intensive Support’ designation for our elementary schools, and we are committed to using this data to continue strengthening our work."
Both elementary schools identified for intensive support were only tenths of a point away from the next performance category.
"The accountability framework is new and, like any new system, not perfect,” said MCPS Superintendent Dr. Zebedee Talley. “Through the VDOE appeals process, we have shared concerns about the accuracy of some data points, particularly at the elementary level, and we look forward to hearing back from the state about those concerns."
Martinsville will partner with VDOE to access additional resources tied to the new framework and align them with local improvement plans already underway.
The division is already seeing evidence of progress. At Albert Harris Elementary School, 85 percent of students showed growth in reading and 86 percent showed growth in math compared with the previous academic year. Martinsville Middle School also demonstrated growth above 80 percent in both reading and math.
At the middle school, every eighth-grade student is enrolled in an advanced math course, contributing to a 91 percent advanced coursework score. Last year, Algebra I students earned a 90 percent pass rate, while Algebra II students achieved a 100 percent pass rate.
"Our middle school performs exceptionally well in end-of-course math, and that success is not always reflected in broader accountability snapshots,” Downing said. “These results have been strong and consistent for years, and they deserve recognition."
Division-wide, Martinsville has also made significant progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, with Patrick Henry Elementary School leading the way.
Patrick Henry has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the division at 6.9 percent, down from 9.6 percent in the 2023–24 school year. VDOE highlighted the school’s house system, which rewards positive attendance and behavior while providing early, personalized support for students and families, as a promising practice in its Region 6 snapshot.
"These improvements matter,” Talley said. “They show that focused strategies, strong relationships, and consistent support can make a real difference for students.”
Beyond accountability ratings and test scores, Martinsville City Public Schools continues to lead the region in several key areas. Martinsville High School ranks among the top five schools in Region 6 for overall 3E readiness (employment, enrollment, and enlistment) and among the top three for employment readiness, which includes industry certifications and high-quality work-based learning experiences.
"We have been innovators in our region and across the state for our school-based enterprises," Downing said, referring to the The Kennel and Stitchify, two student-run small businesses that have become a hallmark of the division's CTE program.
Locally, MHS has the highest percentage of students enrolled in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses, the highest number of students earning industry certifications, and is one of the top area high schools for students graduating with advanced diplomas.
Division leaders emphasized that the new accountability ratings represent one snapshot based on state-level measures, and no single framework tells the full story of a school.
"A school can excel in some areas while still having work to do in others,” Downing said. “What matters most is that all of our schools continue to grow, improve, and provide meaningful opportunities for students."
Those opportunities extend well beyond academics. Martinsville students compete and win with robotics teams on the world stage, build confidence through the Performing Arts Academy, engage in community service projects, operate student-led small businesses, and earn college associate’s degrees at no cost before graduating high school.
"We are especially proud that, locally, Martinsville Middle School is the only middle school rated ‘On Track,’ and Martinsville High School is the only high school to earn the ‘Distinguished’ recognition,” Talley said. “That speaks volumes about the dedication of our educators and the commitment of our students. Results like this are reflective of our whole MCPS team, from the students and their families to our teachers, administrators, support staff, and our community."
"Education is about continuous growth,” Talley added. “Not just for our students, but for our teachers and administrators as well. The future of Martinsville comes through our classrooms, and while that is an incredible responsibility, it is one we embrace. We will continue celebrating our successes, addressing challenges directly, and empowering student success one learner at a time