Best Public Schools in Midlothian, VA

Midlothian, Virginia is served by 21 public schools within Chesterfield County Public Schools—11 elementary schools serving grades PK-5, 5 middle schools serving grades 6-8, and 5 high schools serving grades 9-12—enrolling approximately 25,700 students across a wide range of demographic and economic conditions. The district overall ranks in the middle of Virginia districts (73rd of 131), but that single rating masks remarkable variation: 14 of the 21 schools earn 4-star or 5-star ratings, while a handful of schools struggle. Families choosing among these schools will find meaningful differences in academic performance, attendance, poverty levels, and spending.

Among elementary schools, Woolridge Elementary stands out as the highest-ranked school in the city (94th percentile statewide), alongside J.B. Watkins Elementary (93rd percentile) and Bettie Weaver Elementary, which has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (3.8%) and lowest chronic absenteeism (4.8%) of any school in the dataset. Alberta Smith Elementary is the most compelling success story: despite nearly 77% free/reduced lunch eligibility, it ranks in the 87th percentile with only 9.0% chronic absenteeism. At the middle school level, Tomahawk Creek Middle leads the city with a 91st-percentile rank and exceptional Algebra I proficiency (97.3%), followed closely by Midlothian Middle (86th percentile). Among high schools, Midlothian High is the highest-ranked (82nd percentile), but Cosby High has the highest graduation rate (97.3%) and lowest dropout rate (2.6%).

Several patterns emerge. Poverty is not destiny: Alberta Smith dramatically outperforms Thelma Crenshaw Elementary despite nearly identical poverty rates, and attendance appears to be a key differentiator. Spending and class size also do not guarantee results—Manchester High spends the most per student yet has the lowest graduation rate, while Bettie Weaver has the largest classes and is a 5-star school. Chronic absenteeism tracks closely with achievement among the city's best schools. Finally, middle schools are the strongest tier overall, averaging the 74th percentile statewide, while high schools are the most mixed, ranging from Midlothian High's 82nd percentile to Manchester's 28th percentile.