Woodville Elementary School in Richmond’s East End welcomed students back to class earlier than usual this week, marking its first year as part of the city’s RPS200 initiative. The program, now in its second year, extends the school year by 20 days to boost student achievement.

On Monday, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras and Mayor Levar M. Stoney greeted Woodville famiies as the school joined three others in the extended calendar program.

 Mayor Levar M. Stoney, right, gives a high five to a Woodville Elementary School student as they arrive on their first day back at school on Monday, July 22. The school is part of the RPS200 pilot program that was launched last year.

 Woodville Elementary School Assistant Principal Nsombi Morrison, right, hugs and cheers for students on their first day back at school Monday, July 22, as a part of the RPS200 program.
 

“We decided to join the RPS200 program because we knew that this would be the right thing for our scholars," Woodville Principal Dava Allen-Miller said. “Our [neighbor] school, Fairfield Court Elementary piloted the program last year, and their incredible success in literacy, student achievement and student attendance made it clear that this was the most powerful program for our school.”

Fairfield Court saw remarkable gains in its first year, with a 21% increase in K-2 literacy scores and a 23% decrease in chronic absenteeism. These results helped convince Woodville and Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary to join this year, expanding the program to four schools.

“The pandemic was a once-in-a-life educational crisis, which calls for a once-in-a-lifetime response,” Kamras said. “What Fairfield Court and hopefully the rest of RPS200 schools are showing is that any one of our schools, any one of our students can achieve at the highest levels if we give them the resources that they need, most of all, more time.”

The program’s success has drawn attention outside of Richmond. State Superintendent Lisa Coons praised the initiative, calling it “an incredible honor” and noting Richmond’s early literacy growth was “some of the best growth in the state.”

Stoney, an early supporter of RPS200, highlighted the city’s increased investment in education. “Under our leadership, over the course of now seven and half years, I am proud to have partnered with the School Board and City Council to invest the most in Richmond Public Schools that we’ve seen in history — a 57% increase in funding,” he said. 

Initially funded through pandemic relief funds, the program received additional support this year from Bloomberg Philanthropies to continue and expand.

As Woodville Elementary embarks on its extended school year, educators and city leaders are optimistic about the potential for continued academic improvement and reduced absenteeism following the encouraging results seen at Fairfield Court and Cardinal Elementary schools last year.