Virginia is used to being a leader. The Commonwealth has contributed scores of statesmen and innovators who have served our nation well, all while respecting time-tested traditions and values.
“Virginia Leading the Way” is the motto of the Kaine Administration, adopted by the Governor because it embodies both Virginia's tradition of excellence – and its constant striving to surpass previous achievements.
Look to these pages for the latest accolades and accomplishments the Commonwealth has earned for its business acumen and its educational excellence, as well as for notable accomplishments in other areas. We will update this content quarterly, based on feedback and tips from across the state.
Virginia Leads: in Business | in Education | in Technology | other Notable Achievements
Our Latest
Accolades 
Virginia Gets Top Grade in Performance
Virginia again received the top score in the Government Performance Project’s “Grading the States 2008” report, the nation’s only comprehensive, independent analysis of how well each state performs in serving the public. In the first such rating in three years, Virginia achieved an overall grade of A- for performance. Two other states – Utah and Washington - received an A- grade, and the national average was B-. Virginia also received an A- ranking in the most recent “Grading the States” assessment in 2005.
- Read the Governor's full news release for more details.
- View the Government Performance Project’s press release.
Virginia Ranked #1 for Historic Districts
In February, 2008, Governor Timothy M. Kaine highlighted Virginia’s ranking as first among the 50 states and U.S. territories for the number of historic districts added to the National Register of Historic Places during federal fiscal year 2007. It is the third consecutive year in which Virginia has achieved top ranking for districts listed.
“The Commonwealth’s ranking highlights the power of historic preservation as an economic and community revitalization tool,” Governor Kaine said. “Listing of historic districts and properties on the state and National Registers promotes both community pride and rehabilitation.”
Virginia Students Now Third in the Nation in Advanced Placement Achievement
In February, 2008, the College Board's fourth annual Advanced Placement Report to the Nation stated that Virginia now boasts the nation’s third-highest percentage of high school seniors earning a grade of 3 or better on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Virginia ranked fourth in the previous College Board report.
On July 11, 2007, Virginia again led the nation in Forbes.com’s “Best States for Business” ranking. In its second year, the review examines multiple objective measurements, including business cost, regulatory climate, quality of the workforce, and economic growth. Forbes.com is the official Internet site of the Forbes family of business publications.
“To receive this honor for a second consecutive year underscores Virginia’s commitment to creating and maintaining a positive economic climate, and it validates the decision our business partners have made to locate here,” Governor Kaine said. “It’s great to be designated the best in the nation, but its even more rewarding to know that Virginia will keep the No. 1 title for yet another year.”
That same week in July, CNBC, the leading financial news cable channel that reaches influential business and financial leaders around the world, designated Virginia as its “Top State for Business.”
“What a week this has been for Virginia. It is gratifying to see our state applauded by internationally respected financial media organizations such as CNBC and Forbes.com,” Governor Kaine said. “These rankings are significant. As a result of responsible management and bipartisan leadership, the Commonwealth’s positive business climate and quality workforce has again been validated and showcased before a global audience.
Virginia Leading the Way . . . in Business
- In March 2007, Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc. ranked Virginia as "Most Business-Friendly State" a second time.
- The September 2006 issue of Inc. Magazine shows Virginia with 35 of the "Fastest Growing Companies" in the nation on the Inc. 500 List.
- In August 2006, Entrepreneur.com named Virginia the second best state for Entrepreneurs; Fairfax County also placed second in their entrepreneurial county rankings.
. . . in Education
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Education Week says Virginia children are the most likely in the nation to experience success as they move from childhood to adulthood. The journal, in its annual “Quality Counts” report on the progress of the nation’s public schools, says that the typical student in the commonwealth “enjoys higher achievement and is more likely to finish high school and continue on to college than in other states.”
- Examine the full Quality Counts 2007 report from Education Week.
- Download
the full report on Virginia (pdf, 455 k)
- In May 2006, Newsweek magazine listed 18 Virginia high schools as among the 150 best high schools in the nation.
- In its 2006 Best of the Nation report, U.S. News and World Report ranked the
following Virginia institutions:
- Top 50 Public Universities – University of Virginia (tied for 2nd); College of William and Mary (6th); Virginia Tech (tied for 34th).
- Best Liberal Arts Colleges – Washington & Lee (tied for 17th); University of Richmond (tied for 34th);
- Best Master's Universities, Southern Region – James Madison University (2nd); University of Mary Washington (6th);
- Top Master's Public Universities, Southern Region – James Madison University (1st); University of Mary Washington (2nd); Longwood University (11th).
- Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #1 in the disciplines of Fine Arts/Sculpture, and Nursing/Anesthesia.
. . . in Technology
- In June 2007, The Virginia Department of Aging was awarded a 2007 Intergovernmental Solutions Award by the American Council for Technology (ACT). The award recognizes outstanding progress made at all levels of government through the innovative use of technology as a tool for more efficient and effective business processes.
- In October 2006, Governor Kaine announced that Virginia will be the first state in the nation to participate in an historic project to index and digitize Freedmen’s Bureau records, allowing historians and descendents of emancipated slaves, freed Blacks, and Black Union soldiers to access historical data, much of which was never before available.
- Virginia was ranked second in the nation in its use of information technology to benefit citizens in the 2006 Digital States Survey, a prestigious biennial study by the non-profit Center for Digital Government in conjunction with Government Technology magazine.
Other Notable Achievements
- In September, 2007, the Virginia Housing Development Authority won two national awards recognizing outstanding achievement in affordable housing. VHDA won for its REACH NOVA and VHDA University programs.
read more... - In July, 2007, the Virginia Division of Child Support Enforcement was a winner of the 2007 Council of State Governments' (CSG) Innovations Award for its Cell Phone Initiative. With this cell phone records project, Virginia is the first state to initiate administrative subpoenas to cellular phone companies requesting addresses and phone numbers for delinquent non-custodial parents who owe child support.
- Virginia has been ranked Number 1 by the National Register of Historic Places for having the greatest number of historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is the second year in a row the Commonwealth has been so honored.
- In October 2006 the Virginia Housing Development Authority's "Find a Lender" program was recognized by the National Council of State Housing Agencies for outstanding achievement in affordable housing.
- Virginia's Division of Child Support Enforcement was recognized by the National Child Support Enforcement Association with their 2006 Outstanding Program Award for exemplifying the best in enforcement practices and services to its constituency.