Two local schools have been recognized by the Virginia Board of Education. Galileo Magnet High School and Stony Mill Elementary School were both recognized with the Virginia Board of Education’s Highest Achievement Exemplar Award.

In total 37 schools were recognized with the Highest Achievement Exemplar Award. To receive the award the school must be accredited, meet the state benchmark in reading, math, and science, as well as have an absenteeism rate below 15 percent among other marks.