The Virginia Board of Education recognized Patrick Henry Elementary School on Oct. 23 as a Title I Distinguished School. Henry is one of 57 schools honored for raising the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students.

The award is based on student performance on Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments during the 2013-14 and 2012-13 school years. Title I Distinguished Schools are recognized for meeting all state and federal accountability requirements for two consecutive years and achieving reading and mathematics SOL pass rates at 85th percentile or higher.

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk of academic failure. ESEA requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics.