Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Summary:

Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School is a public elementary and middle school in Alexandria, Virginia, serving 636 students in grades PK-8. The school stands out for its significantly higher percentages of African American (51.42%) and Hispanic (18.87%) students compared to surrounding schools, as well as its consistently low academic performance and high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Despite spending significantly more per student ($16,364 in 2020-2021) than the state and district averages, Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Virginia elementary schools, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on SOL (Standards of Learning) tests is significantly lower than the state and Alexandria City Public Schools district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. This persistent underperformance suggests the school is facing significant challenges in improving academic outcomes for its students.

The high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (79.25% receive free or reduced-price lunch) at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School highlights the educational inequities faced by this student population. In contrast, the surrounding schools, such as Belle View Elementary and Charles Barrett Elementary in the Fairfax County Public Schools district, generally perform better academically and have lower percentages of economically disadvantaged students. Addressing the challenges at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to provide targeted support and resources to its students and community.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 1501 Cameron St
       Alexandria, VA  22314


(703) 706-4400

District: Alexandria City Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1010th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,364 Help


Students who attend Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School usually attend:

High:    Alexandria City High School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.9 Help
Number of students:  636

Racial breakdown:

African American:
51.4%
White:
22.2%
Hispanic:
18.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  79.2% Help


 See top rated Virginia elementary schools

 Compare Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School ranks worse than 90.7% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 12th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Alexandria City Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.38. (See more...)
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Compare Details Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School ranks worse than 94.2% of middle schools in Virginia. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.71. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Alexandria City Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School is $16,364, which is the 2nd highest among 14 elementary schools in the Alexandria City Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School:

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School 1010th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School 393rd of 417 Virginia public middle schools. (See Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Alexandria City Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Alexandria City Public Schools 109th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School?

Rank History for Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 3.11 1057th 1062 0.5%
2006 11.72 1040th 1071 2.9%
2007 1.11 1080th 1083 0.3%
2008 11.01 1050th 1081 2.9%
2009 7.14 1066th 1082 1.5%
2010 11.10 1081st 1113 2.9%
2011 0.53 1115th 1117 0.2%
2012 0.91 1117th 1117 0.0%
2013 7.72 1093rd 1120 2.4%
2014 4.28 1094th 1110 1.4%
2015 9.66 1057th 1100 3.9%
2016 9.32 1049th 1096 4.3%
2017 5.49 1070th 1099 2.6%
2018 15.34 1002nd 1097 8.7%
2019 11.90 1036th 1105 6.2%
2021 9.98 1012th 1103 8.3%
2022 7.00 1057th 1109 4.7%
2023 7.15 1055th 1114 5.3%
2024 11.38 1010th 1114 9.3%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 5.45 1020th 1036 1.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 9.26 1031st 1100 6.3%
2024 10.55 1018th 1098 7.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 6.96 1046th 1093 4.3%
2024 20.87 931st 1101 15.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 7.10 563rd 579 2.8%
2024 5.37 580th 588 1.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 46.70 583rd 984 40.8%
2024 71.58 244th 979 75.1%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2011 5.22 412th 413 0.2%
2012 5.89 407th 413 1.5%
2013 14.26 387th 416 7.0%
2014 7.28 401st 416 3.6%
2015 14.18 378th 412 8.3%
2016 14.70 377th 409 7.8%
2017 28.63 333rd 415 19.8%
2018 17.47 386th 413 6.5%
2019 20.85 373rd 424 12.0%
2021 8.37 403rd 419 3.8%
2022 7.04 393rd 415 5.3%
2023 10.32 397th 422 5.9%
2024 9.71 393rd 417 5.8%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 11.65 383rd 402 4.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 13.97 379th 411 7.8%
2024 16.31 366th 407 10.1%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 15.51 367th 409 10.3%
2024 7.91 389th 407 4.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 18.32 265th 298 11.1%
2024 12.76 281st 299 6.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 33.68 189th 275 31.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 








Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, January 7, 2021

Open Quote This is my family's fifth year at Jefferson Houston, and we are very happy. The teachers are kind and encouraging. The parent community is positive and supportive. We are doing virtual learning right now because of the pandemic, and the energy and effort from my children's teachers is remarkable! Don't discount this school because of bad computer algorithms that rank it poorly. Visit the school -- a beautiful new building constructed a few years ago with natural light, a fun playground, and large classrooms -- and talk to parents. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, January 27, 2017

Open Quote J-H has an enthusiastic community of students, teachers, administrators, staff, and parents. It also has fantastic facilities: a new building and K-8 means elementary students have resources not available elsewhere. Test scores are improving as investment in the school has turned the corner and the broader community is supportive. I encourage everyone to visit the school and be impressed by the level of learning taking place. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, June 27, 2011

Open Quote This is a great school. We are having a wonderful experience with small class sizes and individualized attention for kids at ALL levels. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 490 490
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 481 481
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 480 480
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 493 493
1993 85 266 44 116 0 n/a n/a 0 511
1994 81 273 61 87 1 n/a n/a 0 503
1995 68 278 58 115 1 n/a n/a 0 520
1996 68 278 58 115 1 n/a n/a 0 520
1997 92 289 41 107 1 n/a n/a 0 530
1998 82 292 47 114 2 n/a n/a 0 537
1999 89 313 47 154 6 n/a n/a 0 609
2000 97 343 60 169 4 n/a n/a -4 669
2001 56 354 4 70 2 n/a n/a 0 486
2002 51 324 3 48 3 n/a n/a 0 429
2003 51 324 3 48 3 n/a n/a 0 429
2004 42 286 4 46 1 n/a n/a 3 382
2005 52 263 3 38 1 n/a n/a 2 359
2006 58 249 6 39 1 n/a n/a 6 359
2007 55 240 3 45 1 n/a n/a 9 353
2008 49 198 2 38 0 n/a n/a 10 297
2009 25 179 2 35 2 n/a n/a 12 255
2010 37 207 3 40 5 n/a n/a 15 307
2011 58 210 1 46 1 1 18 0 335
2012 70 226 5 59 1 1 4 0 366
2013 55 251 5 61 0 1 4 0 377
2014 36 237 5 70 0 2 7 0 357
2015 48 298 6 83 1 2 7 0 445
2016 70 330 10 109 0 0 9 0 528
2017 77 340 15 112 0 1 18 0 563
2018 129 325 19 141 0 2 21 0 637
2019 147 330 22 120 0 1 21 0 641
2020 151 327 21 137 2 2 20 0 660
2021 130 327 21 137 5 3 28 0 651
2022 128 322 23 137 0 3 28 0 641
2023 141 327 19 120 1 3 25 0 636

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 490 41.2 11.8 n/a
1990 481 39.9 12.0 n/a
1991 480 38.6 12.4 n/a
1992 493 39.3 12.5 n/a
1993 511 41.0 12.5 n/a
1994 503 28.1 n/a 61.8
1995 520 n/a 0.0 56.2
1996 520 n/a 0.0 56.2
1997 530 n/a 0.0 57
1998 537 n/a 0.0 59.2
1999 609 48.0 12.7 67.7
2000 669 n/a 0.0 49.9
2001 486 54.3 9.0 72.8
2002 429 56.0 7.7 72.5
2003 429 56.0 7.7 72.5
2004 382 53.5 7.1 67.5
2005 359 53.5 6.7 66.7
2006 359 49.0 7.3 64.3
2007 353 62.0 5.7 66
2008 297 30.0 9.9 69.3
2009 255 32.0 8.0 75.7
2010 307 26.0 11.8 77.1
2011 335 34.5 9.7 66
2012 366 34.5 10.6 70.2
2013 377 39.4 9.5 70
2014 357 39.1 9.1 79.8
2015 445 37.0 12.0 74.4
2016 528 44.0 12.0 73.7
2017 563 44.5 12.6 71.2
2018 637 54.1 11.7 62.6
2019 641 45.6 14.0 63.5
2020 660 31.3 21.0 63.3
2021 651 49.8 13.0 n/a
2022 641 50.7 12.6 65.2
2023 636 58.0 10.9 79.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 490 41.2 11.8 n/a
1990 481 39.9 12.0 n/a
1991 480 38.6 12.4 n/a
1992 493 39.3 12.5 n/a
1993 511 41.0 12.5 n/a
1994 503 28.1 n/a 61.8
1995 520 n/a 0.0 56.2
1996 520 n/a 0.0 56.2
1997 530 n/a 0.0 57
1998 537 n/a 0.0 59.2
1999 609 48.0 12.7 67.7
2000 669 n/a 0.0 49.9
2001 486 54.3 9.0 72.8
2002 429 56.0 7.7 72.5
2003 429 56.0 7.7 72.5
2004 382 53.5 7.1 67.5
2005 359 53.5 6.7 66.7
2006 359 49.0 7.3 64.3
2007 353 62.0 5.7 66
2008 297 30.0 9.9 69.3
2009 255 32.0 8.0 75.7
2010 307 26.0 11.8 77.1
2011 335 34.5 9.7 66
2012 366 34.5 10.6 70.2
2013 377 39.4 9.5 70
2014 357 39.1 9.1 79.8
2015 445 37.0 12.0 74.4
2016 528 44.0 12.0 73.7
2017 563 44.5 12.6 71.2
2018 637 54.1 11.7 62.6
2019 641 45.6 14.0 63.5
2020 660 31.3 21.0 63.3
2021 651 49.8 13.0 n/a
2022 641 50.7 12.6 65.2
2023 636 58.0 10.9 79.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $426 (3.2%) $12,776 (96.8%) $13,202
2020 $856 (6.2%) $13,018 (93.8%) $13,874
2021 $595 (3.6%) $15,768 (96.4%) $16,364

Data source: Virginia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1036th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 1055th of 1114 Elementary schools
 0.9%
Ranks 373rd of 424 Middle schoolsRanks 397th of 422 Middle schools
 6.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)3326.2
 6.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Alexandria City Public Schools)7158.1
 12.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)3536.8
 1.8%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Alexandria City Public Schools)6260
 2%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)5831.9
 26.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Alexandria City Public Schools)7148.6
 22.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)7042.1
 27.9%
   4th Grade English Reading (Alexandria City Public Schools)6659.6
 6.4%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6947.9
 21.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Alexandria City Public Schools)7252.5
 19.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6753.6
 13.4%
   5th Grade Science (Alexandria City Public Schools)6959
 10%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)5855.4
 2.6%
   5th Grade English Reading (Alexandria City Public Schools)6959.1
 9.9%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6033.3
 26.7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Alexandria City Public Schools)6835.8
 32.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7857.8
 20.2%
6th Grade English Reading (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)7244.2
 27.8%
   6th Grade English Reading (Alexandria City Public Schools)6753.3
 13.7%
   6th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7770.4
 6.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6438.2
 25.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Alexandria City Public Schools)7042.1
 27.9%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7851.4
 26.6%
7th Grade English Reading (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6450.7
 13.3%
   7th Grade English Reading (Alexandria City Public Schools)7054.5
 15.5%
   7th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7970.3
 8.7%
8th Grade Writing (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6122.9
 38.1%
   8th Grade Writing (Alexandria City Public Schools)6754.2
 12.8%
   8th Grade Writing (Virginia)7055.5
 14.5%
8th Grade Science (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)6819.4
 48.6%
   8th Grade Science (Alexandria City Public Schools)6448.2
 15.8%
   8th Grade Science (Virginia)7860.7
 17.3%
8th Grade English Reading (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)7158.8
 12.2%
   8th Grade English Reading (Alexandria City Public Schools)6759.5
 7.5%
   8th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7670.7
 5.3%
End of Course Algebra I (Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School)8137
 44%
   End of Course Algebra I (Alexandria City Public Schools)7349
 24%
   End of Course Algebra I (Virginia)8680
 6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students641636
 0.8%
African American330327
 0.9%
American Indian01
Asian2219
 13.6%
Hispanic120120
Pacific Islander13
 200%
White147141
 4.1%
Two or More Races2125
 19%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients63.5%79.2%
 15.8%


Schools Near Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School









Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School

Students at Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School are 51% African American, 22% White, 19% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School ranks in the bottom 9.3% of Virginia elementary schools.

Students who attend Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School usually go on to attend:

High : Alexandria City High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 636 students attended Jefferson-Houston Pk-8 School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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