Five Gloucester public elementary schools received recognition in the 2012 Virginia Index of Performance Awards announced last week by Governor Bob McDonnell and the Virginia Board of Education.

Abingdon, Achilles, Petsworth and Walker elementary received BOE Excellence Awards, the second-tier honor in the VIP program that went to 188 Virginia schools. St. Clare Walker Middle School in Middlesex also received the recognition, and West Point was one of only two school divisions that received the award.
The recognition signifies these schools have met all state and federal accountability benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and have made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunities set by the board.

Bethel Elementary in Gloucester was one of 171 schools to receive the 2012 Competence to Excellence Awards, the third-tier VIP honor. These schools met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive ...