CCPS Profile

Chesterfield is a wonderful place for children to learn and grow. Families continue to choose Chesterfield County in part because of the public school system, which is consistently cited by SchoolMatch as having what parents want. Recognizing Chesterfield’s appeal, America’s Promise Alliance has named Chesterfield County one of the country’s 100 Best Communities for Young People for three years in a row.

Chesterfield County Public Schools is focused on helping more than 58,000 children acquire the knowledge, skills and values that they need for successful futures. Striving for continuous improvement, the school system works toward the School Board’s vision of every school as “a thriving, dynamic and inspiring educational environment that produces self-directed learners and stimulates citizens of all ages to trust in, invest in and benefit from public schools” by concentrating on the four goals of its
Design for Excellence dynamic strategic plan:
1. academic excellence for all students
2. safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments
3. competent and knowledgeable workforce
4. community investment.

One of the 100 largest school districts in the nation and the fourth largest in Virginia, Chesterfield County Public Schools offers many opportunities as it helps students find their paths to success. Chesterfield’s approach to learning is working: 100 percent of Chesterfield schools are accredited by the Virginia Department of Education and student pass rates on Virginia’s rigorous Standards of Learning tests routinely surpass state averages. Three schools — James River High, Clover Hill Elementary and Robious Elementary — are National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

Chesterfield students and staff members continually receive local, state and national recognition. For two years in a row, the Milken Family Foundation honored Chesterfield teachers with National Educator Awards worth $25,000. The 4,248 graduates in the class of 2007 earned $19.2 million in scholarships. Of those graduates, 54 percent earned advanced studies diplomas and 82 percent planned to attend a four-year or a two-year college.

The 2007-08 operating budget of $569.1 million (per-pupil cost $9,380) is designed to prepare each student for success and includes these initiatives: a new school readiness program for 4-year-olds at several schools; a significant increase in the number of reading and mathematics professionals at all levels; a pilot program of world language instruction in several elementary schools; expanding opportunity for middle school algebra; encouragement for more high school students to enroll in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes or to pursue courses leading to an industry certification; support for the arts; safety nets and expanding alternative education programs for struggling students; and wellness incentives to reduce childhood obesity.

High school students may choose to attend the comprehensive high school in their neighborhood or apply to attend a specialty center or regional governor’s school based on their individual interests and talents. The Chesterfield Technical Center offers a full range of career and technical courses tailored to current workplace needs.

To help make large middle schools more personal, students are organized into teams and share the same teachers who have a mutual planning time. Center-based programs in elementary and middle schools help meet the needs of gifted learners, and an expanding English for Speakers of Other Languages program reflects the growing diversity in the county. Middle and high school alternative study options are available in day and night programs. A coordinated studies program offers instruction via the Internet.

Attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff members is a priority. Chesterfield has 64 National Board certified teachers, 17 teachers with a doctorate and 1,924 teachers with a master’s degree.

Residents have overwhelmingly supported school bond referendums. Almost 5,000 senior residents participate in the school system’s Super Senior Passport program, and more than 300 business and community partners are recognized annually for significant contributions to the school division.

Add it all up and it’s obvious why Chesterfield is a wonderful place for children to learn and grow.

Chesterfield County School Board
Chair Dianne E. Pettitt, Clover Hill District
Vice Chair Marshall W. Trammell Jr., Bermuda District
David S. Wyman, Dale District
U. Omarh Rajah, Matoaca District
Patricia M. Carpenter, Midlothian District

The School Board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of most months. Regular meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, and are shown live on Comcast Channel 17. The School Board also holds public engagement sessions and quarterly work sessions that are open to the public.

Superintendent
Marcus J. Newsome, Ed.D.

62 schools
— 38 elementary schools (grades K-5)
— 12 middle schools (grades 6-8)
— 11 high schools (grades 9-12) that include 11 specialty centers
— 1 technical center
Directions to schools may be found at chesterfield.k12.va.us in the “schools” section.

Students
— 58,414 students as of Oct. 1, 2007
— Demographics based on 2006-07 enrollment show a student body that is 62 percent white, 27 percent black, 6 percent Hispanic, 3 percent Asian/Pacific Islander and 1 percent American Indian/Alaskan native.
— 22.7 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in elementary and middle schools. High schools do not follow the federal lunch program.

Residency requirement
Students must reside with a parent or legal guardian in Chesterfield County to attend Chesterfield County Public Schools. Students attend the schools in their attendance areas unless a waiver is granted or they are accepted in a center-based or specialty program. To determine school attendance area, call 748-1666 or go to the “quick links” section of this site to use the school lookup application.

Entrance age
Children must reach their fifth birthday by Sept. 30 of the school year to be eligible to attend kindergarten, which is a full-day program. There is a preschool program for children with disabilities who must be 2 years old by Sept. 30 to enroll. Full-day school readiness programs for at-risk 4-year-olds are available at several elementary schools.

2007-08 budget
$569.1 million operating budget
$9,380 per-pupil cost

Employees
7,855 total

Calendar
181 student days
Classes start Sept. 4, 2007, and end June 13, 2008.
Winter break is Dec. 20-Jan. 1.
Spring break is March 24-28.

For more information
P.O. Box 10, Chesterfield, VA 23832
chesterfield.k12.va.us
ccpsinfo@ccpsnet.net
(804) 748-1405 • fax (804) 768-4383