Arlington Public Schools (APS) announced on August 12, 2010, the preliminary results of the school division's performance related to Virginia accreditation standards and federal regulations for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) which are part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Based on preliminary Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) test results from the 2009–10 school year, 100% of Arlington schools are fully accredited, having met all state standards.

Additionally, 16 Arlington schools met all performance targets required by the federal government for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). These include: Abingdon, Arlington Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Ashlawn, Barcroft, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Claremont, Glebe, Jamestown, Long Branch, McKinley, Nottingham, Taylor and Tuckahoe elementary schools, and Yorktownhigh school. The remaining 14 schools, which is one more school than in 2009, plus the division did not meet AYP.

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ESEA requires schools, school divisions and states to meet 29 annual targets or objectives for student participation and performance on statewide tests in reading and mathematics for each of the seven identified groups [all students, students identified as limited English proficient (LEP), students with disabilities, state-defined ethnic populations (for Virginia - Black, Hispanic and White) and economically disadvantaged students (identified as those eligible to receive free and reduced-price lunches)]. In addition, schools, divisions and states must meet or make progress towards meeting annual objectives for attendance in elementary and middle schools (or science, although only one school currently has selected science as the other academic indicator) or graduation for high schools. Meeting all of these objectives constitutes AYP under the law. Missing a single benchmark results in a school, division, or state not making AYP. ESEA requires a minimum of 95 percent participation in testing by all students, and by students in all identified groups.  If the 95 percent participation benchmark is not made for all students, or for any of the subgroups, AYP cannot be made, regardless of the passing rates. In Virginia, only those groups that include 50 or more students impact overall AYP status.