Summary:
Arrington, Virginia is home to a single public school, Tye River Elementary, which serves students in grades PK–5 with an enrollment of 360 students as part of Nelson County Public Schools, a district ranked 33rd out of 131 Virginia districts. As the only school in the city, Tye River Elementary serves as the educational foundation for the community, and the data shows a school that is clearly on the rise.
The most notable trend at Tye River Elementary is its rapid improvement in state rankings, climbing from the 43rd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 56th percentile in 2025–2026. The school's 5th-grade students are performing particularly well, with 87.23% proficient in math (compared to the state average of 72.39%), 78.72% proficient in reading, and 78.72% proficient in science. This is especially impressive given that 85.28% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a high-poverty metric that often correlates with lower academic performance. The school also stands out for its low chronic absenteeism rate of 10.1%, significantly better than the district's 12.3% and the state's 14.8%. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1 and per-student spending of $13,996, Tye River Elementary is well-resourced to support its students.
While the trajectory is positive, there are areas that need attention. Fourth-grade math proficiency declined from 75.51% to 68.63% year-over-year and now trails the state average by nearly 5 points. Third-grade reading remains the weakest subject at 67.27%, essentially matching but not exceeding the state average. Virginia Studies scores also dipped from 77.55% to 70.59%. However, the strong year-over-year gains in 5th-grade reading (+10.98 points), science (+12.59 points), and math (+6.58 points) suggest that upper-grade students are benefiting from the school's approach. For parents considering Tye River Elementary, the overall picture is one of a dedicated school making meaningful progress despite economic challenges.
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