Pankateek Elementary School Principal Dr. Preston told the Accomack County School Board on Tuesday that the school’s raw pass rates remain similar to previous years and that staff are optimistic about meeting accreditation benchmarks under Virginia’s revised accountability system.

Dr. Preston presented comparative pass‑rate data across subjects and five years of results, reporting raw pass rates “very similar” to prior years. He said the school recorded an 87.8% raw pass rate in reading, 90.4% in math, 71.6% in science and 77.4% in Virginia studies under the old reporting system; he cautioned that the state’s new growth factor will not be known until later in the summer. “I don’t see us really having to worry about being on track in the end,” he said.

On behavior, Dr. Preston said the school recorded about 318 referrals this year compared with about 360 last year and that physical aggression among younger children remains a focus. He also described Pankateek’s implementation of a Ron Clark Houses program intended to build positive school culture.

Assistant principal Miss Payne spoke about Girls on the Run, a program that combines physical fitness with lessons on well‑being and goal setting. Miss Payne said the district ran programs at six schools this season, including two middle schools, and that 78 girls completed the county season. Student participant Kylie Stanhope told the board, “Girls on the Run taught me about goal setting and getting stronger… I learned to never give up.”

Board members asked questions about technology‑related discipline and commended teachers for strong Virginia studies results. Dr. Preston recognized school staff and retiring employee Mae Gray, who served 40 years at the school.

The principal invited board members to ask further questions and said staff would continue monitoring assessment growth factors as the state releases updated accountability measures.