Schools in Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties remain below state averages in Standards of Learning (SOL) scores across the board, according to Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) data released Tuesday. However, division superintendents from the three school divisions see potential for growth in coming years.

State averages included 80 for English and math; 77 for writing; 86, history; and 83, science. The data is from the 2015-16 school year.

The data encompasses scores for testing in five subject areas: English, math, writing, history and science.

Cumberland County saw the greatest improvement of the three counties, with higher scores than last year in all but writing. Cumberland’s writing score — an average of the elementary, high and middle school’s combined scores — remains at 70.

“Math achievement scores increased significantly at the high school and the graduation rate remains around 92 percent,” Cumberland County Superintendent Dr. Amy Griffin said.

Cumberland High School’s results indicate the school will be fully accredited, Griffin said. She said the elementary school made gains in reading and math, by nine and 17 points, respectively. Because achievement gaps were closed, Griffin said, the elementary school can exit Focus School status, a designation given to low-performing schools.

“Both the elementary and high school have met all Federal Annual Measurable Outcomes,” she said.

At the middle school, she said, scores rose in English, math, science and history.

“This growth shows that we are on the right path,” Griffin said.

Buckingham County’s scores were lower than the previous year in all but science, where the county’s score increased by two points.

Buckingham Superintendent Dr. Cecil Snead said the division has to continue to focus on reading in grades 3-8.

He said the schools have been able to incorporate research-based best practices with reading, which will “allow us to make notable gains in the future.”

Math scores increased by three points and science increased by 10 points at the elementary level, according to Snead. He said middle school science increased six points over last year’s scores.

Snead also said the high school is surpassing benchmarks in each subject and the graduation on-time completion index score is 92 — seven points higher than the commonwealth.

Prince Edward County saw history and science increase by one point. English scores were two points higher than the previous year.

“The recently released scores indicate that we have instructional work to do to ensure that every student in Prince Edward County is successful,” Prince Edward County Superintendent Dr. Barbara Johnson said.

Writing scores declined by one point while there was a three-point drop in math scores, Johnson said. She said the county’s strengths are in the social studies and science categories because of 80 and 77 percent pass rates, respectively.

“Generally, there is still work to be done in all areas, but certainly in the areas of English and mathematics,” Johnson said.

Griffin said Cumberland County continues to work on balanced literacy instruction, student understanding and applying math concepts and skills to real- world experiences. She also said the county is “ensuring students have the skills necessary to be lifelong learners, workers and citizens.”

“Not all of these skills can be measured by high-stakes state tests. Therefore, I believe that SOL test results are only one measure of success,” Griffin said.

Johnson said Prince Edward hopes the dedicated work of its teachers and administrators, and the community “will demonstrate increases in all areas and be at or above the state averages on all SOL tests.”

Snead said Buckingham’s schools are headed in the right direction.

“But we do have to keep fine-tuning and growing in all areas with specific concentration given to the skill sets that are incorporated within the SOL reading assessments in grades 3-8,” he said. “I can tell you with all validity and certainty … if we keep doing the right things and diminish outside distractions that Buckingham will be just fine.”