Best Public Schools in Marshall, VA

Marshall, Virginia is served by two public schools—Marshall Middle and Claude Thompson Elementary—both part of Fauquier County Public Schools, which together educate 680 students in grades PK–8, with no high school located in the town itself. These two schools serve quite different student populations: Marshall Middle has a 33% free/reduced lunch rate, while Claude Thompson Elementary serves a much higher-poverty population at 75%, yet both post similar overall average math proficiency (about 77%). The district as a whole ranks in the 57th percentile of Virginia divisions with a 3-star rating.

Marshall Middle is the stronger-performing school overall, ranking in the 58th percentile of Virginia middle schools with a 3-star rating and an upward trajectory from the prior year. Its standout strength is advanced math: 100% proficiency in both 8th-grade Geometry and 7th-grade Algebra I, with 87% in 8th-grade Algebra I. It also beats district and state averages in 7th-grade math, 8th-grade science, and middle-school reading. However, on-grade-level 8th-grade math fell sharply to 53.4% from 71.0%, suggesting that while high achievers are accelerating, many other students may need extra support. By contrast, Claude Thompson Elementary ranks lower (39th percentile, 2 stars) but shows bright spots, including 5th-grade math at 88.9% proficiency and large year-over-year gains in 3rd-grade math and reading (up 15.5 and 17.5 points, respectively).

The most notable concerns are in elementary reading and science. Outside of 3rd grade, Claude Thompson’s reading scores trail district and state averages by roughly 10 points, and 5th-grade science dropped 20 points from the prior year to 66.7%. Chronic absenteeism is similar at both schools (13.2% and 13.6%), slightly above the district average but below the state. Spending is higher at Claude Thompson ($14,490 per student vs. $13,401), yet its student-teacher ratio is larger (14.9 vs. 9.1), suggesting the extra funds may go toward support services rather than smaller classes. Overall, Marshall Middle is on an improving path with elite advanced math, while Claude Thompson shows promising early-grade gains but has persistent reading gaps and greater economic challenges—meaning parents should look at each school’s specific strengths when considering where their child may thrive.