HCPS continues to be a pay leader among central Virginia school divisions. Along with a host of benefits and professional development opportunities, pay has been increasing at a steady clip. In the past two years, every employee received a minimum pay increase of 13%, not including bonuses and available stipends. Forbes again recognized HCPS as a “Best-in-State” employer.

HCPS continues to prepare students to be enrolled, enlisted and/or employed after graduation. Among the 3,820 graduates in 2024, 59% graduated with an advanced diploma, 82 earned an associate degree from Reynolds Community College while still in high school and 27 celebrated their military commitment.

HCPS’ career and technical education program is a nationwide model and keeps growing. Beautiful new spaces opened at the Advanced Career Education Centers at Hermitage and Highland Springs, and construction at the Campus of Virginia Randolph continued to enhance that ACE Center. The facilities will enable as many as 1,000 more students to take part in CTE programs.

The new Center for Innovation at John Rolfe Middle School offers a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on STEM learning. A second Center for Innovation will open at Quioccasin Middle School.

The Class of 2024 was the first to hold its commencement exercises at the spacious Henrico Sports & Events Center.

HCPS approved an operating budget that includes significant investment in instructional resources to continue implementing the Virginia Literacy Act. The budget also expands CTE programs, ESL instructional staffing and the groundbreaking HCPS Career Ladder.

All HCPS secondary schools had walk-through weapons scanners in place for 2023-24 and elementary school scanners went online on the f irst day of the 2024-25 school year.

• Henrico CARES: HCPS and Henrico County implemented a plan to strengthen access to high quality mental health services. This includes free mental health referral for students, staff and families from Care Solace and remote therapy for high school students from Hazel Health.

• Counselors: Additional high school counselors were hired to help address substance abuse and violence issues.

• Workshops: A new “Mental Health Matters” workshop series offers in-person and remote learning opportunities.

A human-trafficking awareness curriculum that started as a pilot project at two HCPS high schools is being expanded to all secondary schools, and to other school divisions.

HCPS was honored with 22 awards for innovative programs from the National Association of Counties. Henrico County’s 52 awards were the most of any Virginia county for the 19th year and tied for the seventh most nationally.

Teams from Douglas Freeman and Glen Allen high schools claimed the top two spots at the state “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” competition.

Douglas Freeman continued its impressive run of state titles in 2023-24. The girls lacrosse and girls tennis teams both won their fourth straight championships, and the boys swimming and diving team also brought home a title.