Richmond Public Schools is recovering from the pandemic faster than most districts nationwide, per a new report.

Why it matters: RPS was once cited nationally as an example of a school division struggling to recover from COVID-era learning losses. Now, researchers say it's a "district on the rise."

The big picture: Richmond is one of five Virginia districts showing unusually strong progress compared with similar school systems statewide, according to a new Education Scorecard report from Stanford's Educational Opportunity Project.

• And it ranked higher than about 84% of school districts in the U.S. in how quickly students are gaining academic skills year to year.
• The rebound follows the heightened COVID risk that led RPS to go remote for longer than any other district in the state, leaving students to lose two years of math skills and 1.5 years of reading.

How it works: The project offers a national snapshot of how school systems have recovered — or struggled — from 2022 through 2025 using state test data from students in grades 3-8.

Zoom in: In Richmond, students improved test scores by an average of 0.18 grade levels per year since 2022 while Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield saw flat or declining trends.

• Some of the biggest gains were among RPS' low-income and Black students, who account for a major share of the district's enrollment, per state data.
• RPS was also the only local school district in which Hispanic students didn't see a decline in test score trends between 2022 and 2025, per the report.

Yes, but: RPS students remain behind overall, scoring an average of 3.03 grade levels below the 2019 national average.

The bottom line: "We still have a really long way to go," RPS superintendent Jason Kamras told the RTD.

• "But it's gratifying to be recognized for the progress we are making."

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Richmond is backing off its bike-lane buffer ticketing until June 1 after residents complained they were blindsided by the policy change.

• But officials aren't yet addressing another issue: Some parking spaces are so narrow that cars spill into the buffer zone even when parked correctly.

Why it matters: When enforcement starts back up, the city's message is essentially that if your car doesn't fit, park somewhere else — or risk a citation.

Driving the news: Richmond announced Friday that anyone who got a ticket in the past 30 days for parking in a bike-lane buffer can ask the city through a request form to throw it out.

• Residents who already paid the $65 ticket can call the city at 804-646-3684 for a refund.
• The pause, however, doesn't apply to people who park inside the bike lane.

The city didn't respond to Axios' request for comment.

Catch up quick: City Council voted last month to expand Richmond's no-parking rules to include the painted buffer separating bike lanes from traffic.

• Supporters said the change would reduce the risk of cyclists being forced into traffic or hit by suddenly opened car doors.
• Some residents said the rollout lacked guidance, especially on streets like Patterson Avenue or Semmes, where larger cars don't fit within the painted lines.

The intrigue: Weeks before officials acknowledged "a lack of warning period," Richmond's Instagram said warnings were shared before ticketing began.

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🚫 Virginia's 2026 redistricting push is dead after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Democrats' bid to revive the voter-approved plan, leaving the current 6-5 congressional map in place for the November midterms. (Axios)

👀 Gov. Spanberger signed an assault weapons ban into law on Friday — and the NRA immediately filed a lawsuit against the legislation. (WRIC)

✍️ She also signed over two dozen bills, including marijuana sentence review reforms, immigrant worker protections and new energy cost measures targeting data centers. (Virginia Mercury)

• What we're watching: Spanberger's decision on a legal retail weed market bill. Her deadline is Saturday.

🧨 The Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority voted to fund demolition planning for the long-shuttered Coliseum, signaling movement toward tearing it down for redevelopment. (The Richmonder)

Hilex Poly is closing its Henrico plant and laying off 118 workers, bringing the recent job cuts by three local packaging companies to 300. (BizSense)

House of Futbol, a new spot near Scott's Addition, wants to become Richmond's home for World Cup watch parties.

Why it matters: Once fully open, it'll be the city's only dedicated soccer bar serving up coffee, big-match watch parties and Venezuelan food.

The big picture: The idea came to owner Edward Florez about two years ago, when he thought, "Why not turn the regular soccer watch parties I host at my house into a coffee shop and sports bar?"

• The owners of SCOR, the sports center known for its indoor soccer games, loved the concept, Florez told Axios.
• Now the coffee bar — which will serve beer and wine — is inside the facility on Overbrook Road by the entrance of the rock climbing gym Peak Experiences.

The latest: It soft-opened on Mother's Day to test the menu.

• But Florez is still waiting on final city permits as he races to open before the Champions League final on May 30 or the World Cup kickoff June 11.

Zoom in: His vision includes a 12-foot-tall LED screen arriving this week.

On the menu: Venezuelan staples like arepas, cachitos and teque-pretzels — tequeños wrapped in pretzel dough — sourced from local Venezuelan vendors like Tizana and Sicilian Bakery.

Fun fact: Florez, a Real Madrid fan, also dreams of turning the bar into an official supporters club for Real Madrid or FC Barcelona.

• Both are longtime rivals of Penny Lane Pub's significant Liverpool fandom.

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Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show House of Futbol is near Scott's Addition (not in Scott's Addition).