Enrollment and Facilities  |  Instructional Programs  |  Regular Program  |  Gifted Program  |  
Vocational Program  |  Special Needs Program  |  Alternative Education  |  Adult Educational Program  |  
Technology Program  |  Extracurricular Activities  |  Community Involvement

Enrollment and Facilities 

School division growth varies from year to year, but averages around 7 percent. The enrollment is expected to top 3,600 students next year. The need for new facilities is evident with regard to the stress placed upon the core facilities in the existing building. There will be 24 classrooms in trailers during the coming school year. Cafeterias, libraries, gymnasiums, art rooms, music rooms and computer rooms can only hold so many children.

As enrollment increase, these core areas must accommodate more and more students making the availability to each student less frequent. In the case of cafeterias, more lunch periods must be added which stretch the lunch blocks from very early to very late.

Several years ago, the school board recognized the need to develop a long range plan for school facilities. A committee made up of community members and school officials recommended that the next school be a new high school and that it be built in the east-central part of the county.

The school board immediately began to study the available sites in the county. A site was located at the intersection of Batterson, Old Church and Judes Ferry Roads. Following consultation with the board of supervisors, the school board signed an option to purchase the land.

The Master Plan for Facilities also includes a sequence for the construction of school facilities. It recommends for the construction of an additional elementary school in the eastern sector of the county and the renovation of the existing high school into an additional middle school.

This plan will be reviewed each year in light of enrollment increases and adjusted accordingly.

Instructional Programs

The Powhatan County Public School Division maintains a quality system of education for students of all abilities. Programs include those designed for the gifted, special needs, regular education, including college preparatory, and vocational education. Teachers, under the guidance of Standard of Learning (SOL) coordinators, have worked very hard to develop appropriate curriculum in order to meet state requirements. Refinement of these instructional objectives, as well as the techniques employed to implement them is an ongoing process.

During the last two administrations of the SOL tests, Powhatan students have scored higher than many students throughout the state. Scores at the high School level have been especially high. It is particularly Important that the scores at the exit point of the school division, namely grade 11, be at acceptable levels. For the most part, this is the case.

School officials and teachers continue to work toward the improvement of instruction in each subject area. This process takes time since it involves curricular adjustments and the use of new instructional materials. The state has given school divisions seven years in order to fully adjust to changes in the standards of learning.

Regular Program

The regular program includes the widest range of programs from general education to college preparatory. These include core subjects as well as a number of electives, including languages, upper level mathematics, social studies and technology. Most of our students participate in the regular education program and engage in supplementary classes such as vocational, gifted and special education, as needed. Several partnerships with other school divisions provide enrichment activities for all students. The Powhatan public school system is a member of the Mathematics and Science Center located in Henrico County. In addition, it actively participates in activities sponsored by the Arts Council of Richmond. The school division’s partnership with the Midlothian YMCA not only provides before and after school care for young children but also swim lessons for third graders. Parents pay a fee, based upon financial ability for child care. The "Learn To Swim: program is funded by a grant to the Midlothian YMCA.

The school division also belongs to the Metropolitan Educational Consortium at Virginia Commonwealth University. This organization sponsors research on areas of interest to its members. While the school division’s participation in a regional purchasing consortium does not relate directly to instruction, the money saved by participation in the group purchase of needed items, can be used for instruction.

Gifted Program

An age appropriate curriculum is available for gifted students according to their special needs. It includes accelerated subject area instruction, college level instruction, mentorship’s and inter-scholastic academic competition. Students are identified as gifted at the end of grade three. From that point, they are provided meaningful academic activities which met their specific needs. For those students who are highly gifted, the school system is part of a consortium which supports the Thomas Jefferson Governors’ School for Government and International Study. Currently, Powhatan has 12 students enrolled in this program.

Vocational Program

Classes are offered from grades six through twelve. Areas of instruction include business, agriculture, building trades, modern technology, printing, nursing, food service and home economics. These programs also include community outreach and interaction with the elementary schools. Powhatan County High School students have received national and state vocational awards. Students who do not plan to go to college gain marketable skills which enhance their chances of becoming gainfully employed following graduation. During this year, there will be a full-scale evaluation of our vocational education program in order to assess the future direction of the department. This will be funded by a grant.

Special Needs Program

Special programs for students with disabilities are available from pre-school age through grade 12. The school division provides the least restrictive environment to students with a wide range of disabilities, including learning speech, hearing, sight, autism, mental challenges and physiological distinctions. Occupational and physical therapies are available as needed. A therapeutic vaulting program utilizes horses in order to improve coordination. A Parent Resource Center provides a great number of resources with regard to disabilities and instructional issues.

Alternative Education

The Alternative Education Program includes GED classes and other classes designed to offer remedial instruction with the intent of returning students to the regular classrooms as quickly as possible. Alternative education teachers assist students who have fallen behind their peers to the extent that they are no longer able to learn in a regular classroom setting. Alternative classrooms allow these students to "catch-up" in a supportive environment. The effectiveness of the program is evidenced by the school system’s low dropout rate that is around 2 percent.

Adult Educational Program

The Public school system provides adult education on a number of topics. These are free of charge to senior citizens over the age of 62, who are also county residents. This fall a new program will be in place called "senior School." This program will be designed exclusively for senior citizens and will include topics of interest to them. Additional information will be forthcoming during the months ahead.

Technology Program

During the last several years, the public school division has made gigantic strides in the area of technology. Every classroom has access to computers, with the ratio of computers to students being one to six.

Classrooms in grades kindergarten through seven have a computer in each room. Each school has at least one computer lab. The middle and high school have several labs.

A long range technology plan is updated annually. A fiberoptics infrastructure is in place in each school. A Wide Area Network, linking all school facilities to each other and to the Internet, was installed recently. Much of this work was completed using a grant provided by the State Board of Education. An Acceptable Use Policy was implemented last year. This policy sets limits upon Internet use.

Extracurricular Activities

Each school provides extra activities throughout the school year and summer months. A full range of athletics is provided at the middle and high school levels. Activities include a full range of sports programs, band, chorus, academic teams, drama, cheerleading and steppers. The teams have won numerous titles over the years. The school division also maintains a cooperative and supportive relationship with local recreational teams. Building and field usage is high for both school-related and non-related activities.

Community Involvement 

The school division maintains numerous advisory committees including vocational, gifted, special needs, remedial instruction, race relations, disciplinary review and facilities. Advisory committees meet on a regular basis and develop recommendations for the superintendent and/or school board. Advisory committees are composed of citizen volunteers.

School division staff attend meetings in order to provide information and support. Each school, within the division, has an active Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) as well as booster groups that support particular activities. In addition, several business partnerships provide mentoring, apprenticeships, scholarships and other supportive activities for students.