SOL Grade 3-8 Results
Understand your student's growth and performance on state assessments
Most students in grades 3-8 take spring Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in reading and mathematics. Most students in grades 5 and 8 also take a SOL science test and complete an integrated reading and writing (IRW) component for their SOL reading test. When all spring testing is complete, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) shares results with families.
What Information Does the Report Include?
Beginning in spring 2024, grade 3-8 SOL results are delivered in multiple parts.
- Official SOL Score Report - For all spring SOL reading, mathematics, and science tests, this report is posted in SIS ParentVUE and provides the overall test score, overall performance level, and results for each test reporting category.
- Parent Report for SOL Growth - For grade 3-8 reading and mathematics tests, this report shows how the vertical scaled score from your student’s spring SOL test compares to the vertical scaled scores from any VGA tests they took this school year, graphing the change over time. (Note that math growth reporting is not available for students who took a high school end-of-course test.)
- Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Component Details - For grade 5 and 8 students who took the IRW component, a 1-page report with detailed results is delivered to families from your student’s school.
Full text and printable translations of each report are found below, including cover letter and samples where available.
OFFICIAL STANDARDS OF LEARNING SCORE REPORT
Testing Window: _______________
Created at _____________
To the Parents/Guardians of:___________________________ SID:_________ GRD:_____
Official results are listed below for Standards of Learning (SOL) tests your student took in the recent testing window. Your student’s overall scaled score and performance level are listed for each SOL test, along with the score for each reporting category.
Overall scaled scores are reported on a scale of 0-600. A student must attain an overall scaled score of 400 or higher to pass the test. If a student attains an overall scaled score of 500 or higher, the student is considered to have performed at an advanced level on the test. An overall scaled score between 0 and 399 indicates the student did not pass the test. An entry of “NS” for the scaled score means no score is available. If your student has multiple results for the same test, this means your student attempted the same test more than once during this testing window.
The performance level gives a brief description of the overall test outcome. Additional information about the knowledge and skills a student would be expected to demonstrate at each performance level for a SOL test is available on the Virginia Department of Education webpage (http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/scoring/performance_level_descriptors/index.shtml).
Reporting category (RC) scores are reported on a scale of 0-50 and indicate relative strengths and needs within the tested subject area. A RC score of 40 or above indicates strength in that area, and a RC score below 30 indicates an area for growth. An entry of “NS” for the RC score means no score is available.
If you have any questions about the results shown on this report, please contact your student’s school counselor or school test coordinator/assessment coach.
For a translation of this document, please visit the webpage at https://www.fcps.edu/node/35200 or contact your student’s school.
Test Level __________________________ Administered By __________________
| Test Information | Reporting Category Results |
|---|---|
| Test Name: | __________ __ |
| Admin Date: | __________ __ |
| Overall Scaled Score: _____ | __________ __ |
| Performance Level: ________ | __________ __ |
STANDARDS OF LEARNING GRADE 3-8 GROWTH COVER LETTER
Dear Parent/Guardian:
This letter outlines how to access information about your student’s spring Standards of Learning (SOL) results and introduces you to the content of the attached SOL Growth “Parent Letter” from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
How Are SOL Grade 3-8 Student Results Reported to Families
The following reports give families information about spring SOL tests.
- Official SOL Score Report - For all spring SOL reading, mathematics, and science tests, this report is posted in SIS ParentVUE and provides the overall test score, overall performance level, and results for each test reporting category.
- “Parent Report” for SOL Growth - For grade 3-8 reading and mathematics tests, this report shows how the vertical scaled score from your student’s spring SOL test compares to the vertical scaled scores from any VGA tests they took this school year, graphing the change over time.
- Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Component Details - For grade 5 and 8 students who took the IRW component, a 1-page report with detailed results is delivered to families from your student’s school.
How You Can Help Your Student’s Learning
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) seeks to partner with families to foster every student’s learning potential. The following steps offer questions and resources for families to consider.
STEP NUMBER 1 -- Talk to your student’s teachers to learn more about ways you can give support from home. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- Is my student on grade level in all classes?
- With what skills does my student need more support?
- How can I support these skills from home?
- Are there other classroom assessments of which I should be aware that will help me understand my student’s progress?
STEP NUMBER 2 -- Access free resources available for you and your student to use at home. Here are some suggestions:
- Digital Resources to Support Student Learning at Home (https://www.fcps.edu/node/47089)
- SOL Grade 3-8 Results webpage resources (http://www.fcps.edu/node/49808)
- Understanding SOL Test Results
- Family Resources to Support Student Learning
- Questions to Ask Your Student’s Teachers
- Content Learning Resources
STUDENT NAME State Testing Identifier: XXXXXXXXXX Grade: X School: XXXX – SCHOOL NAME Division: XXX – DIVISION NAME | Parent Report |  | |||
| (subject | icon) | . | TEST NAME | WINDOW Test Date: DATE | |
 | What is this report? This report shows your child's performance on the Virginia Standards of Learning test. This report, combined with teacher input, classroom work, report cards, and the Student Detail by Question reports, gives families and teachers a more complete picture of student progress. You can use these results to help identify where your child is doing well and where additional support may be needed. | ||||
How Did Your Child Perform Overall? | |||||
| What is a performance level and an overall score? This test has performance levels to show how your child performed according to grade level expectations. The overall score shows the specific numeric score your child earned within the performance level. | ||||
| . | Performance Level:PERFORMANCE LEVEL | What does this mean?GENERAL DESCRIPTION FOR THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL | |||
Your Child’s Overall Score |
 |
Your child's academic progress in this school year | |
| . | The chart below shows your child's score on each of the growth assessments your child took over the course of this school year. These scores can be used to understand if your child is learning the content and skills expected in the Virginia Standards of Learning. If the growth assessment score is staying the same or decreasing, it may be helpful to ask the teacher if your child needs more support in this subject area. |
 | ||
Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Based on your child's score on each Growth Assessment shown above, your child: | ||
needs additional support.  | is at risk.  | is generally well prepared.  |
| (range low) - (range high) | (range low) - (range high) | (range low) and above |
LAST NAME, FIRST NAME Integrated Reading and Writing Component
Student Test Details
Administration WINDOW | Test Name Gr X Integrated Reading and Writing Component | Division DIVISION NAME | Delivery Group GROUP NAME |
State Testing Identifier XXXXXXXXXX | Grade X | School SCHOOL NAME |
| What is this report? This report provides information on your child's performance on the Integrated Reading and Writing test component of the Reading Standards of Learning (SOL) test. This test component addresses reading and writing content and skills. Students were given a nonfiction passage and six multiple-choice or technology-enhanced questions and were asked to write about the nonfiction passage. Your child's performance on the test questions and writing, combined with teacher input, classroom work, report cards, and other assessment information, gives a more complete picture of student progress. You can use these results to help identify where you child is doing well and where additional support may be needed. |
The item descriptor and SOL measured for each test question presented to the student during this test are shown below.
|
Demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction texts and use word analysis strategies
Item Descriptor and SOL Measured
 | ITEM DESCRIPTION (STANDARD) |
| ITEM DESCRIPTION (STANDARD) |
| ITEM DESCRIPTION (STANDARD) |
 | ITEM DESCRIPTION (STANDARD) |
| ITEM DESCRIPTION (STANDARD) |
| ITEM DESCRIPTION (STANDARD) |
Written Response Scores
| Domain | # Points Earned | # Points Possible |
| Composing/Written Expression | X | 8 |
| Usage/Mechanics | X | 8 |
How Are Scores Reported to Families?
When a student takes a SOL exam in a testing window, families receive a custom score report within 2-4 weeks of the close of the window. Most families receive reports through the Student Information System (SIS) ParentVUE.
The following reports are posted to the ParentVUE Documents section:
- Official SOL Score Report - preliminary results posted by the end of the year
- SOL Growth Cover Letter and "Parent Report" - posted by the end of the year
Additionally, the IRW Component Details (grades 5 and 8 only) is distributed from your student's school by the end of the year.
You will also find numerical scores for historical SOL exams in the SIS ParentVUE Test History section.
The following reports are delivered from your student's school by the end of the year:
- Official SOL Score Report
- IRW Component Details (grades 5 and 8 only)
Additionally, the SOL Growth Cover Letter and "Parent Report" is delivered via U.S. Mail within about 3 weeks of the last day of school.
SIS ParentVUE Gives You Information to Support Your Student's Success
If you do not already have a SIS ParentVUE account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you are able to view your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessment score reports.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
FCPS streamlines families’ access to student academic information through our division’s SIS ParentVUE. By providing academic records all within this system, families have fewer logins to keep track of and can view information for all of their children in the same session.
FCPS does not use the state parent portal because of accessibility limitations and our division effort to streamline parent reporting through SIS secure access whenever possible.
Understanding SOL Results
The VDOE provides information about how SOL scores can be used. The questions and answers below offer guidance based on the information available from VDOE at this time. Updates are made as VDOE releases additional information about the use of SOL data.
Each test's overall performance level gives a brief description of the overall test outcome. The Virginia Department of Education provides additional information about the knowledge and skills a student would be expected to demonstrate at each performance level on their Performance Level Descriptors webpage.
The overall performance level is determined based on the overall test scaled score.
- Pass/Advanced: 500-600
- Pass/Proficient: 400-499
- Basic: 325-399
- Below Basic: 0-324
- Fail/Does Not Meet: 0-399 (Science grades 5 and 8 only)
Note that for grade 8 reading and mathematics, the precise cut score between Basic and Below Basic varies slightly by test.
The FCPS Official SOL Score Report includes reporting category (RC) scores for each test completed. Reporting category (RC) scores are reported on a scale of 0-50 and indicate relative strengths and needs within the tested subject area.
- RC score of 40-50 indicates strength in that area.
- RC score of 30-39 indicates performing as expected in the area.
- RC score of 0-29 indicates an area for growth.
Keep in mind that each SOL test reflects performance on a single day and should be used alongside other available data for a more complete picture of academic performance and needs. Talking to the student's teacher is the best way to learn more about how the student is progressing in each subject area.
The VDOE has defined vertical scaled score score bands to reflect the potential level of support a student may need to successfully access content standards at the next grade level. These bands suggest the student’s general readiness to access the content standards for their next reading and mathematics course. VDOE describes the level of support students scoring in each band may need during the upcoming school year.
Needs Additional Support: The student is expected to need additional support with prior knowledge and foundational skills as new content is introduced throughout the next school year. Effective support may include individualized and small group instruction. Some documents may reference this support range as being below expectation.
Is At Risk: The student is at risk for needing additional support with some prior knowledge and skills as new content is introduced throughout the next school year. Effective support may occur through individualized, small group, and whole group instruction. Some documents may reference this support range as approaching expectation.
Is Generally Well Prepared: The student is generally well prepared for new grade level content in the upcoming school year. Some documents may reference this support range as meeting expectation.
SY 2023-24: Mathematics Vertical Scaled Score Bands for Readiness and Support
SY 2023-24: Reading Vertical Scaled Score Bands for Readiness and Support
You can find your student's readiness symbol within the graph at the bottom of the "Parent Report" for SOL Growth. This graph shows your student's fall, winter, and spring vertical scaled scores and gives the readiness symbol for each score.
Keep in mind that each SOL test reflects performance on a single day and should be used alongside other available data for a more complete picture of academic performance and needs. Talking to the student's teacher is the best way to learn more about how the student is progressing in each subject area.
Under Virginia Code (8VAC20-131-30), schools are expected to provide remediation to any student who fails a SOL test in grades 3-8. At the same time, it is important to remember that the SOL is just one data point to use when considering a student’s readiness to access curriculum standards for their current courses.
FCPS applies a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework as school teams make decisions about students' instruction, support, intervention, and tutoring needs, as applicable. School teams review multiple data sources to create a more complete picture each student's academic performance. Examples of data sources that go into support decisions include performance on:
- Academic screeners (iReady reading/math in elementary school; Math Inventory/Reading Inventory in middle school)
- Fall and Winter VGA tests
- Previous SOL tests
- Classroom assessments and assignments
If your student is identified to receive intervention or tutoring based on the school team's review, your student's school will share information with you about their needs, supports, and progress. For more information about your current student’s learning progress, please talk to your student’s teacher.
Please note that High Intensity Tutoring through the All In Virginia Initiative is not currently available in every school because the VDOE's High Intensity Tutoring allocations vary by division. You can find current information about Tutoring Options in FCPS on our webpage.
For grades 4-8 reading and mathematics, the Virginia Board of Education has approved the use of SOL vertical scaled scores to measure student growth within the Standards of Accreditation (SOA). SOA growth is measured using vertical scaled scores from the prior year SOL test to the current year SOL test. For grade 3 only, a student's fall VGA vertical scaled score is compared to their spring SOL vertical scaled score. If the current spring score is within a higher range than the previous score, then the student is determined to have made growth.
You can find your student's current (spring) reading and mathematics SOL vertical scaled score on the VDOE "Parent Report" for SOL Growth, which is posted to SIS ParentVUE or distributed to families by school staff before the end of the school year. This "Parent Report" includes a graph showing your student's fall, winter, and spring vertical scaled scores. When considering growth, only the number for the vertical scaled score is used. The symbols displayed in the graph to not apply to SOA growth calculations.
Mathematics Vertical Scaled Score Ranges for SOA Growth Calculations
Reading Vertical Scaled Score Ranges for SOA Growth Calculations
The Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) component of the SOL Reading test assesses how your student applies reading and writing skills. Students taking the IRW test component received a nonfiction passage with six (6) related multiple-choice or technology-enhanced questions. Students were also asked to write a short response related to the nonfiction passage.
The IRW Component Details report includes two sections with information about your student's performance on this test component. Your student's performance on the multiple-choice/technology-enhanced questions and written response, combined with teacher input, classroom work, report cards, and other assessment information, gives a more complete picture of your student's progress in literacy. You can use these results to help identify where your student is doing well and where additional support may be needed.
Multiple-Choice/Technology-Enhanced Questions
The middle section of the IRW Component Details report describes each question your student saw and shows whether whether your student answered the question correctly (coded with a check mark) or incorrectly/left it blank (coded with a “X”). Each question shows which English standard it measured.
Written Response
The bottom section of the IRW Component Details report provides the rubric scores assigned to your student's short written response. These scores are based on the VDOE's Composing/Written Expression rubric and Usage/Mechanics rubric. You can find these rubrics at the bottom of the VDOE's SOL Practice Items webpage.
Family Resources to Support Student Learning
FCPS and VDOE offer resources that parents and caregivers can access when thinking about VGA performance and next steps.
Talking to your student’s teachers can help you learn more about ways you can give support from home. Here are some possible questions you may want to ask:
- Is my student on grade level in all classes?
- With what skills does my student need more support?
- How can I support these skills from home?
- Are there other classroom assessments of which I should be aware that will help me understand my student’s progress?
VDOE Resources for Parent/Caregiver Conversations
The following resources are provided by VDOE and are currently available in English only.
VDOE Questions to Ask Your Student’s Teacher About Math  | VDOE Questions to Ask Your Student’s Teacher About Reading  | VDOE Parent-Teacher Planning Tool  |
FCPS Learning Resources
FCPS provides digital resources to support at home for elementary and middle school students.
You can also find current information about Tutoring Options in FCPS.
VDOE Learning Resources
The VDOE webpage highlights free online resources to help caregivers support their students in the VGA content areas.
Assessment Resources
Learn more about assessments in FCPS