Virginia updated its Mathematics Standards of Learning in 2023, and all Virginia schools have been implementing them fully since the 2024-2025 school year. These standards set clear expectations for what students should know at every stage of their math education.
When we were students ourselves, documents like these felt distant and hard to translate into anything practical. A grade, a score, or better yet, a set of standards: none of it came with a guide for parents trying to make sense of it all.
We are guiding you through exactly that. Here is what we cover:
A grade-band breakdown of what Virginia's 2023 SOLs expect at each level
A plain-language explanation of what SOL scores actually mean
A look at how Henrico County classrooms are bringing these standards to life for families in and around Tuckahoe
Virginia's SOLs are not just a list of topics for students to memorize and move on from. At every grade level, five process goals run through all the content students learn:
Problem solving
Mathematical communication
Reasoning
Making connections
Using representations
Think of these as the how behind the what. A 3rd grader learning multiplication, for example, also needs to explain their reasoning out loud and connect the concept to a real-world situation.
Compare that to the math we grew up with. Back then, getting the right answer was enough. Today, Virginia expects students to show their thinking, and parents often notice this at home in the way teachers design homework.
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Virginia's SOLs organize math expectations into clear grade bands, each building on the one before. We’ll walk you through what your student needs to know and do at each level, what fluency looks like in practice, and what you are likely to notice at home.
In the early years, Virginia's SOLs focus on building number sense, counting, place value, and addition and subtraction fluency. The big milestone parents should watch for: by the end of Grade 2, students need fluency with addition and subtraction facts within 20.
Our teachers never wanted us to just memorize "2 plus 3 equals 5," but to understand why that was true. That distinction makes all the difference now.
Parents today will notice the same emphasis at home. Rather than drilling facts in isolation, teachers guide students to:
Compose and decompose quantities (breaking 7 into 5 and 2, for example)
Connect numbers to real-world objects and situations
Explain their thinking, not just produce an answer
Build true number understanding here, and each math concept that follows becomes more approachable.
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These are the years Virginia's SOLs raise the bar. The core focus moves to multiplication and division, fractions, and decimals. According to the NCTM Position Paper on Fluency, parents should keep these two milestones on their radar:
Multiplication and division fact fluency by the end of Grade 4
All four operations applied to fractions and decimals by Grade 5
You might remember fractions as the moment when math started feeling hard. Suddenly, numbers had a relationship to each other that felt abstract and slippery.
Researchers point to 5th-grade fraction understanding as one of the most reliable predictors of algebra readiness.
At home, you might notice your child:
Working with visual models like number lines and area diagrams
Comparing fractions with different denominators
Applying fractions and decimals to real-world problems
Build a true understanding of fractions here, and algebra becomes a much less intimidating prospect down the road.
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Middle school students face a decisive turn toward abstract thinking in these years. The core focus moves to rational numbers, proportional reasoning, and the early building blocks of algebra.
Students also face a new expectation: justifying answers in multiple ways and explaining their mathematical thinking clearly.
Middle school is often when parents first notice something has changed. The work looks harder, the concepts feel less intuitive, and previously capable students may suddenly seem lost.
Parents should pay close attention to that gap. Unresolved knowledge gaps from elementary school tend to surface most visibly in these years, as the curriculum grows more abstract and relies more heavily on prior fluency.
At home, parents in these years often notice their child:
Working with negative numbers, ratios, and percentages
Solving equations and inequalities for the first time
Needing to explain or justify their answers in writing
Students in these years also reach a turning point. The foundations they build here directly influence which high school courses they can access.
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High school students work through three core courses under Virginia's SOLs: Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. The 2023 update also introduced something parents should know about.
Students now have access to diverse pathways beyond Algebra 2, including data science, AP courses, and dual enrollment options through local community colleges.
For families in Tuckahoe, Henrico County Public Schools outlines these pathways in their course planning resources. Parents should review these early because the decisions they make in middle school directly affect which high school pathways stay open.
At home, parents of high schoolers often notice their child:
Preparing for Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2 assessments
Exploring elective math options beyond the core sequence
Balancing test prep for college entrance exams alongside coursework
The pathway your student takes through high school math shapes their options far beyond graduation day.
SOL scores run on a scale of 0 to 600, with three performance levels that reflect both correct answers and depth of understanding relative to Virginia's standards. Here is how to read them:
0–399 (Basic): Indicates partial understanding. Students at this level struggle with core grade-level concepts. A 5th grader here, for example, may not yet be able to add fractions with unlike denominators or apply them to word problems. Additional support is often recommended.
400–499 (Proficient): Meets grade-level expectations. Students handle standard problems independently and can explain their reasoning. A 5th grader at this level solves fraction operations using models and shows a solid foundation for the year ahead.
500–600 (Advanced): Exceeds grade-level standards. Students apply concepts flexibly to complex, multi-step scenarios. A 5th grader scoring here uses fractions and decimals in real-world tasks and is showing early connections to algebraic thinking.
Parents receive these scores annually through school portals or report cards. For a deeper look at what each level means at your child's specific grade, VDOE publishes Mathematics Performance Level Descriptors that map scores to concrete skills. These descriptors are available here.
Mathnasium of Tuckahoe works closely with students from across the Tuckahoe area. Parents often come to us with questions about how Virginia's SOL expectations play out in their child's classroom.
Because most of our students attend Henrico County Public Schools, these are the three elements that come up most consistently:
Math Workshop model: HCPS classrooms, including Tuckahoe Elementary, a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School, replace lecture-style instruction with high-yield routines and small-group work. Parents often notice their child coming home with work that looks very different from the math they remember.
Math Talk: Teachers ask students to explain their reasoning verbally and in writing. We remember math class as a place where you either got the answer or you didn't. Today, how a child thinks through a problem matters just as much as the answer itself.
Digital platforms: HCPS uses DreamBox Learning, ST Math, and Khan Academy for adaptive practice. Parents may recognize these from their child's homework routine or weekly progress updates.
These initiatives connect directly to Virginia's SOL Process Goals and reflect how Henrico County brings state standards to life locally.
Mathnasium instructors meet students where they are on their SOL math journey, helping them catch up, keep up, and get ahead.
Mathnasium is a math-only learning center that helps K-12 students catch up, keep up, and get ahead in math. For families navigating Virginia's SOL expectations, knowing where your child stands is the first and most important step.
We use The Mathnasium Method™, our proprietary teaching approach that builds on what each student already knows, fills knowledge gaps, and introduces new concepts gradually and logically.
Each student begins with a diagnostic assessment that maps their current skills directly against the grade-level milestones Virginia's SOLs define. From there, we build a personalized learning plan tailored to their needs, pace, and goals.
Our tutors follow the plan closely, delivering face-to-face math instruction in a supportive and fun setting. We phrase math concepts in natural language and use a combination of verbal, visual, mental, tactile, and written techniques. This helps students truly make sense of the material they’re learning.
During sessions, students have time to work through problems on their own, after which we rejoin them to check their reasoning. The goal is for them to learn to trust their own thinking over time. When we step in to explain a concept, we always show both the how and the why behind the answer, building the critical thinking tools students carry into math and beyond.
Fun is embedded in the approach, too. Sessions are often game-based and hands-on, keeping students engaged and enjoying the process. We track progress and celebrate every win, and that consistent recognition grows confidence with each session.
The results speak for themselves:
94% of parents report an improvement in their child's math skills and understanding
93% of parents report their child's improved attitude toward math after attending Mathnasium
90% of students saw an improvement in their school grades
With over 1,100 centers, we bring the Mathnasium Method™ close to your community.
If you are in or near Richmond, VA, Mathnasium of Tuckahoe brings that same proven approach to families across the Tuckahoe area and greater Richmond, helping students at every grade level meet and exceed Virginia's SOL expectations.
Whether your child is looking to catch up, keep up, or get ahead, our team is ready to assist!
📅 Schedule a Free Assessment at Mathnasium of Tuckahoe
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Mathnasium of Tuckahoe is a math-only learning center for K-12 students in Richmond, VA. Trusted by over a million parents, Mathnasium uses personalized learning plans and the proprietary Mathnasium Method™ to help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead on their math journey.
Our specially trained tutors deliver face-to-face instruction in a supportive and fun small-group environment, working with students to develop a deep understanding of math, build confidence, and improve academic performance.
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