Superintendent highlights graduation gains, new grants and student voice initiatives at joint meeting
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Summary
Dr. Keefer reported WJCC graduation indicators above 90%, announced a $250,000 math innovation grant and a $60,000 acceleration grant, expanded student voice efforts and previewed redistricting tied to new pre-K campuses.
Dr. Keefer, superintendent of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, opened the joint meeting with a report that highlighted division academic outcomes, new grant awards and several student‑focused programs.
He described the Federal Graduation Indicator (FGI) and Cohort Completion Rate (CCR), reporting the division's FGI at 91.2% and CCR at 96.9% for the cited cohort. Dr. Keefer positioned those metrics within the state's school performance framework and said the division is aligning its public dashboard with the strategic plan's key performance indicators to improve transparency.
The superintendent outlined the division's "3E" readiness framework of enrollment, employment and enlistment: participation counts included dual enrollment, Advanced Placement and Early College Scholars programming, some Governor's School participants and 107 students who took the ASVAB this year. Dr. Keefer said the division will move to a model where eleventh‑ and twelfth‑grade students take the ASVAB beginning in the 2026 school year.
He announced two competitive grants aimed at improving mathematics: a $250,000 math innovation grant to expand hands‑on numeracy practices and a $60,000 math acceleration grant to fund a summer bridge course for students on accelerated pathways. Dr. Keefer also promoted a free community screening of the documentary "Multiple Choice," presented in partnership with the William & Mary School of Education.
On family and community engagement, Dr. Keefer described literacy initiatives aligned with the Virginia Literacy Act, individualized reading plans serving roughly 1,900 elementary and middle school students, a Title I family literacy event held Feb. 4, and planned volunteer trainings and recruitment events.
He previewed a kindergarten orientation pilot that used an 8‑day two‑phase approach at three schools and said the program will expand to six schools for the 2026–27 year with adjustments based on parent and staff feedback. Dr. Keefer also noted ongoing redistricting work tied to two new pre‑K buildings expected in 2027 and said final attendance zone recommendations are anticipated around October.
The report closed with a focus on student voice: a student superintendent advisory group, a forthcoming student voices tour to visit every K–12 school, and a leadership connect day in April that will bring local government leaders together with high school students for civic learning.
During Q&A, members commended the initiatives and asked how outcomes would be measured; Dr. Keefer said the division would rely on graduation, grade‑level reading and other performance indicators as well as exhibition‑based assessments to demonstrate impact.