WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 |
Dear Charlottesville City Schools families and staff,
Today the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced that all Charlottesville City Schools are fully accredited. The VDOE also announced that all our schools meet or exceed the state’s accountability benchmark of 80 points. (On average, our schools increased these scores by 4-5 points from last year). Sunrise Elementary earned the state’s highest designation, “Distinguished,” for earning more than 90 points.
Even though all our schools are meeting that 80-point benchmark, some have been given a designation that is lower (“Approaching Expectations” rather than “Meeting Expectations.”) This is because current state regulations mandate that a school receive a lower designation if even one group of students is federally identified as needing targeted support (e.g. English language learners, Black students, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students). Read more in our ParentSquare post.
A lot is changing about the way the state measures schools, but our commitment remains the same: To support ALL students to perform at high levels. This week I am wrapping up Quarter 1 success meetings with every school. At these meetings, my team assesses how each school is responding to data and supporting underperforming demographic groups. We work hand-in-glove with school leaders to ensure a plan is in place with teachers, instructional specialists, and families to support every student.
If you have any concerns about your child, please contact your teacher or counselor so the school can work with you and your student to address them and make a plan for their success.
Dr. G
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We loved bringing our community together for the first-ever Budget Bistro! About 200 staff, families, and students came out to Charlottesville Middle School to share their voice and break bread as a community. Attendees learned about our schools, dined with student ambassadors, connected with the School Board, and gave feedback about budget priorities for the division. Budget Bistro photo gallery. |
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Wednesday, October 7, 5:45-7pm: CCS Family Workshop on Youth Substance Use. Charlottesville High School. Workshop led by Region 10.
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Thursday, October 8, 5pm: School Board Budget Work Session at Charlottesville High School Media Center.
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Thursday, October 8, 7pm: CHS Choir Fall Concert at MLK Performing Arts Center at CHS.
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Monday, October 12: End of grading period.
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Friday, October 16: No school for students (teacher workday)
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Saturday, October 17, 3pm: CHS Marching Band hosts Cavalcade.
Art by Stephen Brissett, Grade 9, Charlottesville High School
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In each Cville Schools This Week newsletter, we will introduce you to one of the many great people working and learning in Charlottesville City Schools. Get to know our latest Face of CCS.
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Name: Paola Christy
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School: Greenbrier Elementary School
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Position: First Grade Instructional Assistant
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How long have you been with Charlottesville City Schools?: Five years. I have worked in education since 2000.
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What is your favorite part about your job?: The opportunity I have to work with children. Modeling kindness and compassion, listening to their interests and being energized by their curiosity, talents and contributions is a fulfilling career. It is my hope that caretakers, parents and family members know that their child is being cared for and loved in a meaningful way. The colleagues I work with, who are both supportive and encouraging, make all the difference in my day and I thank them for all that they do!
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What do you enjoy doing outside of school?: My daughter, Zaharra Colla, my family (most of whom are in Italy), and close friends are my catalysts. I enjoy learning about the world and changemakers through books from our public library, NPR, and PBS. Attending cultural events at the JSAAHC, Kluge-Ruhe and other venues is a gift. Travelling goes along with these pastimes. Visiting places like Belize, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Puerto Rico has been life changing and I am grateful to see more of the world. Seeing the UVA Center for Contemplative Sciences open its doors to the community makes me hopeful that more inclusivity and bridges will be made to share resources.
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What colleagues are saying: Paola is deeply committed to seeing each student as an individual. She takes the time to know who they are, and to make them feel safe and seen.
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Charlottesville City Schools values student voice. We’re launching a new column called “Backpack Dispatch” that features articles about our schools, written by our students. For our first installment, Trailblazer fifth grader Mateo Vincent visited the school bus yard to see the two new electric buses in our fleet, interview a driver, and take a ride. Read Mateo’s story.
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The Charlottesville High School Band was officially invited to perform in the 2028 London New Year’s Day Parade by Bob Bone, the founder and chairman of the parade, and Steve Summers, Chair of the London Mayors’ Association (and former Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster) on Monday at the MLK Performing Arts Center. Check out the coverage from Cville Right Now and NBC29. |
Lucas Dunaway, a sixth grader at Charlottesville Middle School, has earned a trip to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National in April. Lucas won first-place honors in the boys 10-11-year-old division at the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Pennsylvania to earn a spot in the National Finals, which will take place on April 4, 2027 at Augusta National prior to the start of The Masters. Lucas has previous experience competing in the tournament. In 2025, when he was a fourth grader at Greenbrier Elementary School, Lucas finished second in his age group at the National Finals at Augusta. |
This year’s Trailblazer Elementary School Walk-A-Thon was filled with energy, school spirit, and Eagle pride! The event raised more than $11,000 for the Trailblazer PTO. Check out a photo gallery and a video recap of the Walk-A-Thon. |
Charlottesville High School golfer Charlie Wise was named the CBS19 Student Athlete of the Week! Charlie has helped lead the Black Knights to a successful season while also taking four AP classes at CHS. Watch the story
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Two CHS student-athletes are in the running for Daily Progress Athlete of the Week honors. Golfer Ryan Cullinan is on the ballot after earning medalist honors at the Region 4D North tournament. He is joined by CHS volleyball player Virginia Maier, who tallied 20 kills in two matches for the Black Knights. Vote here (voting runs through Thursday, October 8 at 11:59pm). |
In late September, Black Knight Nation took a break from class to celebrate the CHS fall sports pep rally at Theodose Stadium. Check out the photo gallery
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This fall, the City of Charlottesville will vote on a 1% local sales tax to fund school construction.
- A YES vote could mean an estimated $12 million in annual revenue exclusively for school capital projects.
- A NO vote would mean capital projects must be funded through existing revenue sources or delayed until alternative funding is secured.
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Monday, November 9, 7-8 PM via Zoom
The story of middle school in Charlottesville is changing, and we want to make sure everyone has a chance to hear the good news (and get their questions answered!) Join Charlottesville Middle School Principal Dr. Summerlyn Thompson to learn about how the city's brand-new middle school supports students in exploring academic and extracurricular opportunities, making friends, and building community. There will also be a Q&A where we'll tackle your real questions and separate fact from fiction.
This conversation is open to anyone with a future middle school student who is curious about what CMS has to offer.
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SCIENCE: CCS is undergoing curriculum adoption for science in K-5th grades. We want to hear from YOU. Our 8-minute survey includes questions about what values you prioritize when considering a textbook. It also offers an opportunity to express interest in joining the committee.
ENGLISH: CCS is currently evaluating four English core curriculum programs for K-8th grades. Come explore the curriculums we’re considering and provide your feedback at the English Curriculum Fair, Monday, November 2, anytime between 4 and 6pm at the CHS Media Center.
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Help us keep students warm for the winter season: purchase a coat for a student!
Send coats to ATTN: Bianca Johnson 1400 Melbourne Road Charlottesville VA, 22901
The Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Coat Drive runs from October 12-November 20. Thank you so much for your continued support of our school community!
SNACK DRIVE UPDATE
We are incredibly thankful to live in a generous, giving community. During this year's CCS Snack Drive, which concluded last Friday, members of the community donated 90 boxes of snacks for our students! If you would still like to make a donation, contact your school.
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The City of Charlottesville’s next Neighborhood Walk takes you around the site of the Charlottesville Early Learning Center and surrounding neighborhoods. Get to know the city better, learn from neighbors, and see where there are places to build more connected community
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When: Sunday, October 11, 10am
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Where: Meet at the bike rack of Crow Recreation Center, 1700 Rose Hill Dr.
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NEXT MEETINGS:
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Budget Work Session: Thursday, October 8, at 5pm in the CHS Media Center. The Board will review community feedback from the Budget Bistro.
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Regular Board Meeting: Thursday, November 5, at 5:30pm at CHS Media Center.
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Charlottesville City Schools partners with Conexus to provide vision screenings, exams, and glasses for students. Their mobile vision clinic recently came by Sunrise Elementary School and will be making stops at all CCS schools throughout the fall, as they do every year. Watch the CBS19 story
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Parents/guardians of current students automatically receive the Cville Schools This Week newsletter from the division. Other community members are welcome to subscribe here!
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