Eight county schools including Halifax County High School have met or surpassed state accreditation standards as a result of scores on 2002 Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.
Joining Halifax County High School on the list of accredited schools are the paired schools of C.H. Friend Elementary School and Washington-Coleman Elementary School, South of Dan Elementary School, and Sydnor Jennings Elementary School.
Virgilina Elementary School and Wilson Memorial Elementary School are also in line to receive state accreditation under the SOLs.
Schools that received provisional accreditation status were Halifax County Middle School, the paired schools of Halifax Elementary School and Sinai Elementary School, Clover Elementary School, Cluster Springs Elementary School, Meadville Elementary School and Scottsburg Elementary School.
Turbeville Elementary School was in the category of provisionally accredited; needs improvement.
None of the county schools were accredited with warning.
The results of this year's SOL tests showed a marked improvement from the previous year.
Six county schools received full state accreditation in 2001.
Also, eight schools were in the category of provisionally accredited; needs improvement in 2001. That number was reduced to one in 2002.
Ann Conner, director of Instruction for the school system, told the Halifax County School Board Monday night that the figures and results she distributed in her report were preliminary figures.
"We do not have a state summary," Conner said.
"We do not have a state average and we do not have the accreditation report."
Conner noted that there may be a little bit of deviation in some of the numbers when the final report is received from the state but that the accreditation status of the schools should not change.
Halifax County's third-grade students showed what Conner called "modest gains" in the percentage of students passing the tests in each of the core subject areas of English/Writing. Mathematics, History/Social Science and Science.
The biggest gain in the passing rate came in the area of Science where 74.55 percent of the students passed the SOL test as compared to 66.59 percent in 2001.
The county's fifth-graders made gains in the passing rates in all subject areas which included English, Writing, Mathematics, History/Social Science, Science and Technology.
Chief among the increases was the area of Math where 64 percent of the fifth-graders passed the test as compared to 55.31 percent in 2001.
Coupled with a remediation bonus, a bonus allowed for students who did not pass the test the previous year as fifth-graders but who underwent remediation and passed the test this time around as a sixth-grader, the number swelled to 83.15 percent.
The area of the smallest gain in the passing rate among the fifth-graders was in English.
There was a decline in the passing rates from the 2001 scores in the areas of English, Writing and Mathematics among the eighth-grade students at Halifax County Middle School.
English took a big hit as the passing rate dropped from 82.07 percent in 2001 to 63.90 percent in 2002.
There was a three percentage point drop in the passing rate in Mathematics and a drop of just under 2.5 percentage points in Writing.
The eighth-graders did, however, have a 100 percent pass rate in Algebra I for the third consecutive year.
They also showed a significant improvement over last year with 70.17 percent of the students passing the History/Social Science test as compared to a 52.52 percent pass rate in 2001.
There were gains in the passing rate among the four core subjects in the end-of-course tests taken by students at Halifax County High School.
Conner pointed out that the biggest gains in the percentage of students passing end-of-course tests came in Chemistry, World History and U.S. History.
There were dips in the passing rates for the end-of-course tests in Geometry and Earth Science.

Larry Elliott Wilson, a 47-year-old Virgilina resident, pleaded guilty yesterday in Halifax County Circuit Court to the attempted murder of his wife, Robin Rice Wilson, after a domestic dispute at their Rip Rock Road residence in March.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to the aggravated malicious wounding of his wife, use of a firearm to commit malicious wounding, and to discharging a firearm in an occupied building.
Larry Wilson also entered an Alford plea to an amended charge of the assault and battery of Martha Rice, his mother-in-law.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence makes a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
A charge alleging Wilson assaulted and battered Robin Rice Wilson was dismissed and the commonwealth nol prossed a charge alleging the defendant used a firearm to attempt the murder of Martha (Tuny) Rice.
In addition, Judge Leslie M. Osborn found evidence not sufficient for a jury to deliberate on two other charges­the attempted murder of William Booker Rice, the defendant's father-in-law, and use of a firearm to attempt the murder of William Booker Rice.
The Halifax County Sheriff's Department was called to the Wilson's Rip Rap Road home during the afternoon of March 3.
Authorities said that deputies were called to the residence the day before the shooting in response to a dispute.
Robin Wilson had swore out a warrant on her husband at that time, but deputies were unable to find him to serve the papers.
Robin Wilson phoned police the next afternoon and reported that her husband was at their residence and was trying to get in.
Upon entering the residence, the defendant fired three shots, one of which struck his wife in the abdomen, authorities reported.
Robin Wilson then managed to drive herself a short distance to the home of her parents, with her husband following her there, according to the Sheriff's Office.
It was there that Robin Wilson, with the help of her mother, subdued Larry Wilson.
Pulliam said that he understood Martha Rice struck her son-in-law with a flashlight, knocking him unconscious.
Witnesses at the scene said that Larry Wilson was bound with duct tape when deputies arrived.
Judge Osborn revoked Wilson's prior bond after the trial and remanded him to custody to await sentencing in a future term of court.

South Boston Town Council went into closed session during their regular meeting Monday night to discuss a lawsuit challenging the 25 mph speed limit on North Main Street.
"After (council) discussed it, they decided to table the speed study pending the results of the litigation," Town Manager Ted Daniel said yesterday.
"It's not going to move off of 25 until the town council of South Boston or a court says it is," he added.
The suit, which names Daniel as a defendant, was brought by Richmond engineer Joe Bahen.
Bahen said he was alerted by a Halifax County resident on June 1 that the speed limit could be improperly posted.
"My investigation revealed that the 25 mph speed limit north of Hamilton Boulevard had been posted without authority in law, and without the slightest engineering justification whatsoever," the engineer said earlier.
Bahen said that in order to change the speed limit, a governing body must make an ordinance change based on an engineering and traffic investigation.
The engineer said he found the speed limit was changed in 1996 by a city council 'motion,' not an ordinance.
"The motion was based on a petition signed by 21 citizens," Bahen noted.
He also said no engineering and traffic investigation was conducted.
Ironically, Daniel said yesterday that the section of road in question has been identified in the South Boston Transportation Plan for improvements.
Prior to going into closed session, council unanimously approved conducting a traffic study on the northern entrance of Halifax Square Shopping Center.
At issue is traffic making an left-hand turn out of the northern entrance.
Town Manager Ted Daniel said the issue arose following concerns from citizens.
"If you recall, the council has discussed this several times in light of accidents and complaints from citizens about harrowing experiences at the intersection," Daniel told the council during their July work session.
There have been four accidents at the intersection since September, 2000, Daniel said during the July meeting.
He said that in response to the complaints, he posted a 'no left turn' sign at the intersection.
"The current issues recommended we conduct a traffic and engineering study and recommend traffic patterns for that entrance/exit," Daniels said.
The town manager said he had taken the initial steps to begin the study.
"I've made initial contacts with a consultant out of Raleigh, N.C., who an engineering firm recommended," he said.
Daniels noted the firm was the same firm who implemented the traffic pattern for Halifax Rd. in front of the high school.
Council also approved the carry-over budget adjustments to the 2002-2003 budget.
The total amount to be carried over is $264,892.
"It gives the opportunity to complete projects in this fiscal year," Daniel said.
The motion to carry over the funds was made by Councilman Coleman Speece, and was unanimously approved.
The council also approved, on a motion by Councilman Carroll Thackston, the publication of the delinquent real estate tax list for the 2001 fiscal year.
In other business, council unanimously approved amending the town code to impose civil penalties on businesses operating without a business license.
"Upon adoption of this ordinance, the penalties become effective immediately," Daniels observed. "It will give us the increased ability to collect delinquent business license taxes."
Under the new language, any person operating a business without the proper license will be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
"Each day shall be a separate offense. Any conviction under this provision shall not relieve any such person from the payment of the license tax prescribed by this chapter," the new code reads in part.
Council also unanimously approved amending the code rescinding the real estate tax exemption for the elderly.
"The finance committee concurred with the finance director's recommendation to discontinue the policy due to the minimal amount of refunds being given due to the low real estate tax rate," Daniels said.

The Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force made two drug-related arrests Monday.
Seneca Leamond Wenstley, 23, of Alton had additional charges filed against him following an in-depth investigation into his activities.
Wenstley was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm while possessing cocaine and possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony.
Wenstley was arrested at the Halifax Adult Detention Center, where he is currently incarcerated awaiting sentencing for convictions of two charges of distribution of cocaine.
Wenstley's initial arrest stemmed from a year-long investigation that included undercover agents purchasing crack cocaine and a search warrant that was executed on October 19, 2001.
At the time of the execution of the search warrant, officers seized crack cocaine, marijuana, money, firearms and numerous other items.
Wenstley was not at his residence when the search warrant was executed.
He was arrested on December 11, 2001.
"This area has been responsible for the distribution of crack cocaine on a daily basis," Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam said.
At the time of the arrest, Pulliam said the Wenstley residence had a large customer base that supplied local residents as well as residents of North Carolina.
Pulliam said the customers traded stolen merchandise, firearms and sex for crack cocaine.
"The investigation is continuing and we expect additional suspects to be arrested," the officer said.
Community citizens aided in the investigation, according to Pulliam.
"The success of this investigation was the result of undercover agents purchasing crack cocaine from these locations during the investigation and valuable information provided by concerned citizens," he said.
Also seized at the scene were cash, "a substantial amount of crack cocaine and marijuana," TVs, stereos, VCRs, DVD players and various other electronics, a dozen firearms and a vehicle, Pulliam said.
Wenstley is currently being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax without bond.
Police also arrested Robert Edward Cole, 19, of MacDonald Rd., in Scottsburg.
Cole was arrested Monday at 1 p.m., and charged with possession of cocaine.
He is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail under a $10,000 bond.

A gala community celebration will be held Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Halifax County High School honoring the World Series champion Halifax County National Belles and Virginia champion Halifax County Debs and Halifax American Angels girls softball teams.
As of mid-day yesterday, seven speakers have committed to participating in the event.
Delegate Clarke Hogan, Board of Supervisors Chairman David E. Martin, South Boston Town Council member Carroll Thackston will be among the speakers.
Several Dixie Softball officials including Belles National Director Carl O. Boelte, Zack Black, a Dixie Softball national commissioner, State Director Frank Perkins of Halifax and District Director John Owen are also scheduled to be on hand.
One of the highlights of the event will be the presentation of the World Series championship trophy by Boelte and the presentation of World Series championship medals to the Belles team by Boelte, a noted former Halifax County High School baseball standout.
Ironically, the World Series championship trophy, the Carl O. Boelte World Championship Trophy, is named in Boelte's honor.
Dixie Softball officials voted in 1990 to name the Belles World Series championship trophy in honor Boelte in recognition of his many years of service to Dixie Softball.
Boelte, who has been named as a lifetime national director in Dixie Softball, served as a national director of the Belles program from 1978-1990.
Along with honoring the World Series champions, local officials will also honor the Halifax County American Angels and the Halifax County Debs teams, both of which won the Virginia state title and played in the World Series in their respective divisions.
Coaches of all three teams will be introduced and they, in turn, will recognize their players.
"We're going to have a party," said Dean Elliott, who spearheads the local Dixie Softball program.
"We want everyone to come out and join us as we honor these girls and celebrate our three state championships and our World Series title.
"Most especially, we want the parents, grandparents, relatives and friends of these girls and their coaches to come out and be with us as we celebrate this wonderful accomplishment," he added.
After the ceremonies are completed, cake, ice cream and soft drinks will be available.
The Halifax Debs, Halifax National Belles and Halifax American Angels All-Stars had a combined 21-2 record in district and state competition.
The Halifax Debs had the toughest task in reaching the World Series in Ozark, Alabama, defeating arch rival Charlotte County in two consecutive games for the State Championship, after losing to them earlier in the tournament.
The Belles' only loss was to Emporia in the first of two games to decide the state title, but came back to rout Emporia 17-2 in the championship game, while the Halifax American Angels All-Stars swept through both district and state competition with a perfect 8-0 record.
Pitching for the three teams combined for a total of eight shutouts in district and state competition.

Lizzie Dickerson Baker

Lizzie Pearl Dickerson Baker, 86, of Charlotte Court House died Sunday at her home.
She was born June 28, 1916, in Prince Edward County, a daughter of the late John Nathan and Mittie Sue Jennings Dickerson.
She was the widow of Frank Everen Baker.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Clyde and Frank, four sisters, Daisy Lang, Nellie St. John, O'dell Wade and Marguerite Tolley.
Mrs. Baker is survived by one son, Leslie Baker of Chesterfield, and three daughters, Marie Heath of Richmond, Virginia June Jones of South Boston and Mary Anderson of Lynchburg. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, one step-great-grandchild, six great-great-grandchildren, and three sisters-in-law, Katherine Dickerson of Pamplin, Cornelia Baker of Randolph and Melissa Baker of Keysville.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the New Hope United Methodist Church in Randolph.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider New Hope United Methodist Church, c/o Rev. Carol Mann, 3515 Scuffletown Road, Charlotte Court House, Va. 23923.

Kenneth Wayne Kersey

Kenneth Wayne Kersey, 62, of Nathalie died Monday at his home.
Mr. Kersey was born in Keysville on April 3, 1940, a son of the late Franklin Kersey and Irene Angel Kersey. He was married to Juanita Anderson Kersey.
He was a member of Clover Bottom Baptist Church, French Masonic Lodge, Brookneal Moose Lodge and the Brookneal Sportsman Club.
Mr. Kersey was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict and owner of Kersey's Body Shop for 35 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived one by one son, Kenneth Wayne Kersey II of Nathalie, one daughter, Karen K. Morton, and her husband, David, of Gladys, and two grandchildren, Robert and Paul Morton of Gladys.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 14, at Clover Bottom Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. Charles O'Roark, the Rev. James Crocker and the Rev. Don Cockes, with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Hills or Gideons International.

Virginia Farrar Elliott Summers

Funeral services for Virginia Farrar Elliott Summers, 71, of Keysville, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ash Camp Baptist Church.
Mrs. Summers will be interred in the Public Fork Christian Church Cemetery in Red Oak.
Mrs. Summers died Monday.
She is survived by her husband, Stuart Summers, one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Amy Elliott, one daughter and son-in-law, Deborah Elliott Claiborne and Victor Claiborne, all of Halifax, one sister, Ruby Thaxton of South Boston, four grandchildren, Brian "Scott" Jones, Whitney Blair Claiborne, Adrian "Dax" Elliott and Tonya Michelle Elliott, and two great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7-8:30 at the Browning Funeral Home in Keysville.