Metompkin Elementary

Metompkin Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Parksley, VA, serving 435 students as part of the Accomack County Public Schools district. In 2025–2026, the school ranked 964th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (13th percentile, 1 star), but the school's story is more complex than a single rating. The student body is very high-poverty, with a free/reduced-price lunch rate above 100%, meaning virtually every student qualifies. The school spends about $9,541 per student — the lowest of nearby Accomack elementary schools — with a student–teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

Despite these challenges, Metompkin has clear bright spots. Chronic absenteeism is just 7.0%, far better than the state average of 14.8% and the lowest among nearby schools. Metompkin's English Learner students have ranked at the 50th to 68th percentile statewide over the past two years — well above the school's overall 13th-percentile ranking. And 4th grade VA Studies is a genuine standout: 82.05% proficiency in 2025–2026, far above the district (69.55%) and state (70.52%), nearly matching the top-performing nearby school, Pungoteague Elementary. Fifth grade reading also approaches the state average at 67.61%, outperforming Chincoteague Elementary and Kegotank Elementary.

The bigger concerns are in early-grade math and reading, where proficiency lags the state by 20 or more points, and 5th grade science, which has declined from 60% proficiency in 2022–2023 to 43.66% in 2025–2026. Per-pupil spending is roughly $1,700–$2,400 less than nearby schools like Accawmacke Elementary and Chincoteague Elementary, which may matter for services and staffing. Still, Metompkin has climbed from the 1st percentile in 2015–2016 to the low teens today, and its strong attendance and EL performance suggest effective support for some students. For parents, the picture is mixed: a school still working to lift overall proficiency, but with proof that grade-level and subject-level success is happening in its classrooms.