WINDSOR
According to recent reports from the Virginia Department of Education, Isle of Wight County Schools posted one of the highest On-Time Graduation Rates in the Hampton Roads region. The division’s rate of 93.8 percent exceeds the state average of 91.1 percent and trails only York and Poquoson for area school divisions. Both Windsor and Smithfield high schools posted numbers greater than the 91.1 percent rate for Virginia. Ninety-six point six percent of the WHS class of 2017 earned a Board of Education-approved diploma, while 92.7 percent earned the same from Smithfield High.

The graduation rate for all IWCS subgroups, including economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and black students, also exceeded the state average for each subgroup.

“I am very proud of the continued success of our division,” said Division Superintendent Dr. Jim Thornton. “The data supports our mission of preparing all of our students to be college, career and life ready.”

The dropout rate for IWCS was 3.4 percent for the class of 2017, which was an improvement from the previous year’s rate of 4.1 percent. Both high schools were below the state’s dropout rate of 5.8 percent. Windsor was at 1.7 percent while Smithfield was at 4.0 percent.

“Our low dropout rate, paired with our high graduation rate, is a result of the expectations we have for educational excellence,” added Dr. Thornton. “This information validates the attention we give to each of our students to ensure they will be successful citizens once they leave our doors.”