Bedford County reports preliminary SOL gains; superintendent urges improved chain‑of‑command

Bedford County Public Schools presented preliminary 2024–25 SOL (Standards of Learning) results and an update on division priorities at the Sept. 11 school board meeting. Superintendent Mr. DuPair and an executive team presenter, Dr. Prosper, credited staff and students for academic improvements while flagging areas in need of targeted support.

"I am proud to say that BCPS has moved up the rankings from 36 to 31 for the 24‑25 SOL academic performance scores," Superintendent DuPair said in his superintendent’s report, and he singled out Monita Elementary as a school recognized for state‑level improvement. Dr. Prosper said the division had “improved in many areas, and in some cases, they showed drastic growth,” and reviewed subject‑by‑subject pass‑rate trends across zones and grade levels.

Staff noted the division is one of 13 in Virginia to reach its highest state ranking since 2006 based on raw pass rates. Division highlights included strong gains in science (division science pass rate climbed from the mid‑60s in 2022 to about 77% this year) and notable improvements at several individual schools. Monita and Boonsboro were cited for particular improvement in SOL pass rates for students with disabilities.

At the same time, Dr. Prosper and board members emphasized math as an area the division will monitor closely. Math pass rates increased overall but showed uneven results by grade and school; district secondary algebra and some middle‑grade results dipped in places. Dr. Prosper attributed part of the dip to teacher turnover in algebra and to the transition to more rigorous new state standards and curricular changes. He told the board the division is prioritizing coaching, algebra readiness funds from the state, and redistributing support to schools most in need.

In his superintendent’s report, Mr. DuPair also raised concerns about communication practices and urged stakeholders to respect the division’s chain of command. "During the last year, I've noticed an alarming communication, in particular, a chain of command protocol trend," he said, adding that concerns should be taken to the immediate person involved and, if unresolved, escalated respectfully through principals and central office rather than posted on social media.

Board members asked for follow‑up on particular results — for example, algebra trends at Forest Middle School — and staff said they will return with deeper analysis and action plans. Dr. Prosper repeatedly noted that these are preliminary raw pass rates and that final accreditation and growth calculations could modify some of the numbers presented.

The board and staff also discussed variable attendance, staffing stability and the impact of small‑school enrollments on scores; staff said targeted supports will be prioritized in zones showing declines, particularly the Liberty zone. The presentation closed with the superintendent and senior staff thanking teachers and students for the results and outlining next steps for monitoring and curriculum implementation.