MACHIPONGO, VA- Northampton County Public Schools (NCPS) proudly shares that all division schools have once again earned Fully Accredited status for the 2026-27 school year. This achievement reflects our collective dedication and should inspire pride among parents, teachers, and community members. Divisions across the Commonwealth saw growth in Virginia’s school performance framework, and NCPS followed suit, highlighted by Northampton High School earning the state’s highest honor of Distinguished with 99.02 points.
Under Virginia’s accountability system, performance categories range from Distinguished (over 90 points) down to Needs Intensive Support (below 65 points). Kiptopeke Elementary School improved from its prior year designation to earn a Meets Expectations rating with 84.36 points, successfully exiting federal identification status. Occohannock Elementary School also improved its overall performance score to 82.24 points, while Northampton Middle School scored 79.67 points, and both schools maintained strong foundational growth.
Both Occohannock and Northampton Middle received final designations of Approaching Expectations after missing target marks within the Students with Disabilities subgroup. Federal identification status focuses on whether a school meets specific subgroup metrics.We recognize the importance of supporting all student groups and are committed to implementing targeted strategies to improve subgroup performance, ensuring that these labels do not overshadow the overall instructional quality and progress happening across the division.
These subgroup outcomes also reflect a broader shift under updated Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) benchmarks. Since Title 1 schools across Virginia demonstrated strong progress this year, the baseline thresholds for targeted support were raised, creating a more rigorous comparison point than last year. As a result, the number of schools identified statewide for targeted support nearly doubled - from 343 schools in 2025 to 609 schools in 2026 - with most being identified due to performance gaps in the Students with Disabilities subgroup. Under the state framework rules, missing these high subgroup targets calls for an automatic adjustment to a school’s performance designation, ensuring state and federal support and resources are directed to where they are needed most.
“We are proud that all of our schools are Fully Accredited and that Northampton High School achieved Distinguished status for the second consecutive year,” shared Dr. Lisa Martin, Superintendent of Schools. “These performance ratings highlight both our broad instructional strength and the specific areas where we can expand targeted resources. Continuing on this year of growth, we remain fully dedicated to working alongside our teachers and families to ensure every student succeeds.”
About Northampton County Public Schools: Located at the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Northampton County Public Schools (NCPS) is a PreK-12 school division dedicated to providing a high-quality, inclusive education that reflects our community’s values. By balancing innovation with a supportive, small-school atmosphere, NCPS strives to prepare every learner to be a productive, responsible, and proud citizen. The division is committed to elevating instructional quality and expanding student support services to foster community pride and to ensure all students are ready for enrollment, employment, or enlistment in an ever-changing global society.
###