Report: APS Minority Achievement

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Arlington Public Schools (APS) has been ranked as one of the best school systems in the country. Niche.com ranked them as the top school in the state of Virginia, and the Washington Post ranked APS in the top three percent in the nation in their “Challenge Index.” This report explores the performance of students within the top-rated APS by five subgroups: Hispanic, White, Black, Economically Disadvantaged and Economically Disadvantaged and their intersectionality (APS released a similar analysis here). In this report, students’ performance in both graduation rates and SOL test scores is evaluated, as well as their performance over time. The methodology and sources for all of the statistics included in this report are available in the Appendix and Methodology.

Please note: Graduation rates are calculated by cohort. Rates include students who enter APS and who graduate within four years, regardless of age. Students who have recently entered the school system in their senior or junior year are not included in this report so as to consider the necessary adjustment time needed for those students to graduate. Additionally, Asian, Islander and Native American SOL scores and graduation rates are not included since few districts have enough students in those categories to accurately report. There may also be differences between the first and second graphs reporting state averages due to the first being a calculation of all students of a subgroup while the second is calculated by division.

Executive Summary

Overall, this report shows several categories for which White, Black and non-free and reduced lunch students in APS rank higher than the 50th percentile in the state of Virginia. Those categories are as follows:

  • White Graduation Rate (97th)
  • White SOL Scores (99th)
  • White Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (84th)
  • White non-economically disadvantaged and non-english learner SOL scores (98th)
  • Black Graduation Rate (85th)
  • Black SOL Scores (81st)
  • Black Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores  (78th)
  • Black English Learner SOL Scores (65th)
  • Black English Learner and Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (64th)
  • Not Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (99th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged not English Learner SOL Scores (93rd)
  • Not Economically Disadvantaged Not English Learner SOL Scores (99th)

On the other hand, APS students scored below the 50th percentile mark in the following categories:

  • White English learner SOL scores (43rd)
  • Hispanic Graduation Rate (8th)
  • Hispanic SOL Scores (18th)
  • Hispanic Economically Disadvantaged and English Learner (20th)
  • Hispanic Economically Disadvantaged (6th)
  • Hispanic English Learner (18th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged Graduation Rate (18th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (27th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged and English Learner SOL Scores (23rd)
  • English Learner Graduation Rate (26th)
  • English Learner SOL Scores (27th)
  • Not Economically Disadvantaged English Learner (36th)

Considering return on investment, or in Arlington’s case, 4th in the state or higher (considering APS spends the 4th most per pupil in the state as shown above), then APS students rank high in the following categories:

  • White Graduation Rate (4th)
  • White SOL Scores (2nd)
  • White non-Economically disadvantaged and non English Learner SOL Scores  (3rd)
  • Non-Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (3rd)
  • Non-Economically Disadvantaged and non-English learner SOL Scores (2nd)

The following categories are where students in APS score below this mark:

  • White English Learner SOL Scores (55th)
  • White Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (22nd)
  • Hispanic Graduation Rate (66th)
  • Hispanic SOL Scores (108th)
  • Hispanic Economically Disadvantaged and English Learner SOL Scores (94th)
  • Hispanic Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (123rd)
  • Hispanic English Learner SOL Scores (100th)
  • Black Graduation Rate (14th)
  • Black SOL Scores (25th)
  • Black Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (29th)
  • Black English Learner SOL Scores (23rd)
  • Black Economically Disadvantaged and English Learner SOL Scores (20th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged Graduation Rate (105th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores (96th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged and English Learner SOL Scores (94th)
  • Economically Disadvantaged and non-English Learner (10th)
  • English Learner Graduation Rate (32nd)
  • English Learner SOL Scores (92nd)
  • Non-Economically Disadvantaged and English Learner  (73rd)

Graduation Rates

APS’s Quickfacts reports that “97 percent of students who attended comprehensive high schools graduated on time.” This section explores the White, Black, Hispanic, English Learner and Economically Disadvantaged subgroup graduation rates as well as their intersectionality. A Federal Graduation Indicator is available with the following interactive tool.

White Graduation Rate

According to the Virginia Department of Education, APS’s White Graduation Rate stands at 99.1 percent. The state average is 93.91 percent. In 2016, Arlington was in the 97.7th percentile of all divisions and ranked 4th out of 131 school divisions. Since 2010, Arlington has gone from the 96.9th percentile to the 97.7th percentile in White Graduation Rate.

APS vs. All School Divisions In State

APS vs. State Average 

APS vs. State Average Over Time 

APS Percentile in State Over Time

Hispanic Graduation Rate

According to the Virginia Department of Education, APS’s Hispanic Graduation Rate stands at 77.1 percent. The state average is 82.3 percent. In 2016, Arlington was in the 8th percentile of all divisions and ranked 66 out of 73 school divisions that had enough hispanic students to report. Since 2010, Arlington has gone from the 12th percentile to the 8th percentile in Hispanic Graduation Rate.

APS vs. All School Divisions In State

APS vs. State Average 

APS vs. State Average Over Time 

APS Percentile In State Over Time 

Black Graduation Rate

According to the Virginia Department of Education, APS’s Black Graduation Rate stands at 94.4 percent. The state average is 88.35 percent. In 2016, Arlington was in the 85th percentile of all divisions and ranked 14th out of 101 school divisions that had enough black students to report. Since 2010, Arlington has gone from the 59th percentile to the 85th percentile in Black Graduation Rate.

APS vs. All School Divisions In State

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APS vs. State Average

APS vs. State Average Over Time 

APS Percentile In State Over Time 

English Learner Graduation Rate

According to the Virginia Department of Education, APS’s English Learner Graduation Rate stands at 74.92 percent. The state average is 80 percent. In 2016, Arlington was in the 26th percentile of all divisions and ranked 32nd out of 43 school divisions that had enough English learner students to report. Since 2010, Arlington has gone from the 10th percentile to the 26th percentile in English Learner Graduation Rate.

APS vs. All School Divisions In State

APS vs. State Average 

APS vs. State Average Over Time 

Graduation Rate Percentile Over Time 

Economically Disadvantaged Graduation Rate

According to the Virginia Department of Education, APS’s Economically Disadvantaged Graduation Rate stands at 82.2 percent. The state average is 84.64 percent. In 2016, Arlington was in the 19th percentile of all divisions and ranked 105 out of 130 school divisions that had enough Economically Disadvantaged students to report. Since 2010, Arlington has gone from the 1st percentile to the 19th percentile in Economically Disadvantaged Graduation Rate.

APS Vs. All School Divisions In State

APS vs. State Average

APS vs. State Average Over Time 

APS Percentile In State Over Time 

SOL Scores

This report divides SOL scores into White, Hispanic, Black, Economically Disadvantaged and English Learners and their respective intersectionality.

White SOL Scores

APS’s average SOL score for Whites is 484. The state average is 444. APS ranks 2nd out of 132 divisions in the state putting them in the 99th percentile. For Free and Reduced Lunch White Students, APS’s average SOL score is 429 compared to the state average of 422. For Free and Reduced Lunch White Students, APS ranks 22nd out of 132 school divisions or in the 84th percentile. For Limited English White Students, APS’s average SOL score is 414 compared to the state’s average 415. For Limited English White Students, APS ranks 55th out of 96 school divisions or in the 43rd percentile. For non-Free and Reduced Lunch and non-Limited English Hispanic Students, APS’s average SOL score was 487 compared to the state’s 455.  For non-Free and Reduced Lunch and non-Limited English White Students, APS ranked 3rd out of 132 school divisions or in the 98th percentile.

White SOL Scores By Subgroup:

APS vs. All School Divisions in State 

Hispanic SOL Scores

APS’s average SOL score for Hispanics is 415. The state average is 428. APS ranks 108th out of 132 divisions in the state putting them in the 18th percentile. For Free and Reduced Lunch Hispanic Students, APS’s average SOL score is 400 compared to the state average of 420. For Free and Reduced Lunch Hispanic Students, APS ranks 123 out of 132 school divisions or in the 7th percentile. For Limited English Hispanic Students, APS’s average SOL score is 381 compared to the state’s average 398. For Limited English Hispanic Students, APS ranks 100th out of 132 school divisions or in the 18th percentile. For both Free and Reduced Lunch and Limited English Hispanic Students, APS’s average SOL score was 379 compared to the state’s 396. For both Free and Reduced Lunch and Limited English Hispanic Students, APS ranked 94th out of 118 school divisions or in the 20th percentile.

Average SOL Scores by Subgroup:

APS vs. All School Divisions In State 

Black SOL Scores

APS’s average SOL score for Blacks is 420. The state average is 409. APS ranks 21st out of 131 divisions in the state putting them in the 81st percentile. For Free and Reduced Lunch Black Students, APS’s average SOL score is 409 compared to the state average of 402. For Free and Reduced Lunch Black Students, APS ranks 29 out of 131 school divisions or in the 78th percentile. For Limited English Black Students, APS’s average SOL score is 406 compared to the state’s average 397. For Limited English Black Students, APS ranks 23rd out of 64 school divisions or in the 65th percentile. For both Free and Reduced Lunch and Limited English Black Students, APS’s average SOL score was 405 compared to the state’s 398. For both Free and Reduced Lunch and Limited English Black Students, APS ranked 20th out of 54 school divisions or in the 64th percentile.

Average SOL Score By Subgroup:

APS vs. All School Divisions In State

 

English Learner SOL Scores

APS’s average SOL score for English Learners is 390. The state average is 404. APS ranks 92nd out of 126 divisions in the state putting them in the 27th percentile. For non-English Learner non-Free and Reduced lunch students, APS’s average SOL score is 480 compared to the state average of 449. For non-English Learner non-Free and Reduced lunch students, APS ranks 2nd out of 131 school divisions or in the 99th percentile. For English learner and non-Free and Reduced Lunch students APS scores 407 compared to the state average of 413. For English learner and non-Free and Reduced Lunch students, APS ranks 73rd out of 115 school divisions or in the 36th percentile.

Average English Learner SOL Score By Subgroup:

APS vs. All School Divisions In State

Economically Disadvantaged SOL Score

APS’s average SOL score for Economically Disadvantaged Students is 408. The state average is 413. APS ranks 96th out of 131 divisions in the state putting them in the 27th percentile. For non-Economically Disadvantaged Students Students, APS’s average SOL score is 476 compared to the state average of 448. For non-Economically Disadvantaged Students, APS ranks 3 out of 131 school divisions or in the 98th percentile. For Economically Disadvantaged Student and Limited English Students, APS’s average SOL score is 385 compared to the state’s average 402. For Economically Disadvantaged Student and Limited English Students, APS ranks 94th out of 121 school divisions or in the 23rd percentile. For Economically Disadvantaged Student and non-Limited English Students, APS’s average SOL score was 429 compared to the state’s average of 415. For Economically Disadvantaged Student and non-Limited English Students, APS ranked 10th out of 131 school divisions or in the 93rd percentile.

Economically Disadvantaged SOL Scores By Subgroup:


APS vs. All School Divisions In State