Virginia’s performance on the federal No Child Left Behind benchmarks for the 2009-10 school year dropped dramatically from a year ago.
Nearly four out of 10 schools in the state failed to make adequate yearly progress in reading and mathematics compared to last year, when 29 percent of schools failed to meet those academic indicators. The state as a whole failed to make AYP after making it a year ago.
In June, the state Board of Education voted that at least 80 percent of students must graduate with a standard or advanced diploma within four years for a high school, school division or the state to make AYP.
Only nine percent of school divisions — 12 out of 132 — made AYP compared to 60 last year.
Set our coachWEST signature education program.
Teaneck High School in northern New Jersey looks exactly like the nickname locals have given it-”a castle on the hill.” A Tudor-style building it calls to mind a medieval fortress, the school is nestled in a cozy middle-class neighborhood just a 15-minute drive from New York City. With approximately 1,350 students, the school combines America’s rich diversity with academic advantages normally reserved for the elite private schools of Manhattan: The library is equipped with wireless laptop carts that can be rolled into classrooms to service every student. Free SAT preparation is offered, and video-on-demand allows teachers immediate access to digital media.
M. H. West & Co., Inc. participated in 
What started as a “man-cession” is turning into a “Great He-pression.”
High schoolers in Chesapeake are referred to guidance counselors. Middle schoolers get the lesson in health class: how to spot gangs, what gangs do, and how to stay away. Now Chesapeake wants to extend these lessons to elementary school students, and eventually even kindergartners. Starting this fall, students in grades three to five will have gang prevention and awareness classes. 
The South Atlanta Educational Complex is a vast brick-and-glass building housing 1000 or so 9th- through 12th-graders. While its students look like those from any big-city school district, administrators estimate that about 85% come from families whose income is below the federal poverty line. In addition to getting an education, many of these teens are supporting a child or younger siblings or caring for an elderly relative or sick parent. Some are in foster care, and some are homeless. Others are children of recent immigrants who work long hours and don’t know how to help them thrive academically.