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John Adams Elementary

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

934^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,110 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

John Adams Elementary in Alexandria, VA, is a PK-5 school serving 743 students within the Alexandria City Public Schools district, where all students receive free meals due to a high-needs population. The school has faced significant academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 20th percentile of Virginia elementary schools, but it stands out for its exceptional performance with African American students, ranking in the 61st percentile statewide—a stark contrast to nearby schools like Ferdinand T. Day Elementary and William Ramsay Elementary, which lack comparable subgroup data and rank in the bottom 5th and 4th percentiles overall.

One of the school's most impressive achievements is a dramatic reduction in chronic absenteeism, dropping from 44.5% in 2021-2022 to just 11.2% in 2024-2025—now lower than the district average of 13.8% and the state average of 14.8%. This rate is also better than nearby William Ramsay Elementary (16.8%) and Glen Forest Elementary (17.1%), and comparable to Ferdinand T. Day Elementary (10.9%). However, the school struggles with other student subgroups, such as White and Asian students, who rank in the bottom 10th percentile, highlighting a need for more balanced instructional strategies.

John Adams spends significantly more per student ($15,767) than many nearby peers like James K. Polk Elementary ($11,597) and Patrick Henry K-8 School ($10,628), yet its academic outcomes lag behind higher-performing schools in neighboring districts. For instance, Campbell Elementary in Arlington County Public Schools spends $19,711 per student and ranks in the 75th percentile, with 3rd-grade math proficiency at 89.23% compared to John Adams' 51.61%. This suggests that while John Adams is well-funded, the investment has not yet translated into top-tier academic results, and the school's challenges are influenced by district-level factors and demographics.

743

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,767

Per pupil spending ?

110.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5651 Rayburn Ave
Alexandria, VA 22311

(703) 824-6970

District: Alexandria City Public Schools

Students who attend John Adams Elementary usually attend:

High:

Alexandria City High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

40.8%

African American:

24.8%

White:

19.8%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 16th percentile in 2015 → 16th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (56% vs 71% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!Mathematics scores 18 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg61%

Virginia avg71%

934^th of 1,110

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 14Elementary Schools in the Alexandria City Public Schools

107^th of 129Alexandria City Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	19.5	934 of 1110	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.5	962 of 1114	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.6	793 of 1114	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	877 of 1109	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.2	811 of 1103	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	807 of 1105	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.2	946 of 1097	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.7	972 of 1099	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.6	921 of 1096	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.8	920 of 1100	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	37.5	778 of 1110	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.6	887 of 1120	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	7.1	1100 of 1117	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	19.5	1044 of 1117	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	10.8	1083 of 1113	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	15.4	1038 of 1082	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	19.2	1009 of 1081	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	10.1	1060 of 1083	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	33.3	859 of 1071	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	21.9	945 of 1062	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	60.6	227 of 579	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	290 of 588	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.1	142 of 579	75.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	10.8	227 of 238	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	28.4	188 of 230	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	37.1	206 of 326	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.9	248 of 306	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	54.6	133 of 300	55.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	14.2	979 of 1096	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.5	939 of 1098	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.7	666 of 1100	39.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	21.6	515 of 606	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	493 of 580	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.0	408 of 564	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	35.0	731 of 1046	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.5	803 of 1036	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	28.9	840 of 1093	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.0	960 of 1101	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.9	889 of 1093	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	14.8	897 of 973	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.2	969 of 979	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.5	894 of 984	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2025)61st percentile+45 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)37th percentile+21 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)30th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)23rd percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)15th percentile~ school

Female (2025)11th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)8th percentile-8 vs school

Asian (2024)5th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Science62%-7 vs state

VA Studies57%-11 vs state

English Reading56%-15 vs state

Mathematics54%-18 vs state

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Schools Near John Adams Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Algebra I (2025)	SOL Mathematics (2025)						SOL Science (2025)		SOL English Reading (2025)						SOL Civics and Economics (2025)	SOL VA Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
John Adams Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	5651 Rayburn Ave	Alexandria	22311	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(703) 824-6970	743	49	15.0	110.8%	147 (19.8%)	184 (24.8%)	303 (40.8%)	81 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	26 (3.5%)	19.5	934^th of 1110 public elementary schools	15.9%		17.5	962^nd of 1114 public elementary schools	13.6%	28		51.6	52.9	59.1				62.3		49.1	58.7	59.6					57.0	$15,767	$913	$14,854
Ferdinand T. Day Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1701 N Beauregard Street	Alexandria	22311	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 619-8125	589	36	16.3	89.1%	97 (16.5%)	179 (30.4%)	232 (39.4%)	66 (11.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	12 (2.0%)	9.5	1030^th of 1110 public elementary schools	7.2%		7.4	1055^th of 1114 public elementary schools	5.3%	25		54.6	41.6	46.5				53.6		47.8	40.6	43.8					56.4	$11,865	$691	$11,174
William Ramsay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5700 Sanger Ave	Alexandria	22311	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 824-6950	689	45	15.3	88.7%	78 (11.3%)	131 (19.0%)	350 (50.8%)	74 (10.7%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	51 (7.4%)	6	1065^th of 1110 public elementary schools	4.1%		6.3	1066^th of 1114 public elementary schools	4.3%	1		53.6	41.3	42.0				47.0		43.6	47.4	44.4					33.3	$15,311	$636	$14,675
James K. Polk Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5000 Polk Ave	Alexandria	22304	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 461-4180	804	48	16.9	75.7%	197 (24.5%)	206 (25.6%)	255 (31.7%)	96 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	47 (5.8%)	29.5	835^th of 1110 public elementary schools	24.8%		30.3	840^th of 1114 public elementary schools	24.6%	5		63.8	58.7	71.8				68.7		52.1	57.0	62.4					50.0	$11,597	$534	$11,064
Patrick Henry K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	4643 Taney Ave	Alexandria	22304	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 461-4170	1,075	60	17.9	96.8%	217 (20.2%)	343 (31.9%)	303 (28.2%)	95 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (1.5%)	101 (9.4%)	28.5	843^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	24.1%		25	903^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	18.9%	60	95.2	54.1	72.2	60.4	58.1	50.7	26.3	55.7	65.2	46.8	62.3	60.6	68.3	73.3	68.2	80.0	69.7	$10,628	$392	$10,236
Parklawn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4116 Braddock Rd	Alexandria	22312	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 914-6900	963	69	14.0	98.1%	257 (26.7%)	155 (16.1%)	294 (30.5%)	237 (24.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (1.8%)	10.8	1017^th of 1110 public elementary schools	8.4%		13.6	990^th of 1114 public elementary schools	11.1%	27		59.3	46.0	42.4				38.7		52.1	48.3	58.5						$12,802	$1,127	$11,675
Claremont Immersion	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4700 S. Chesterfield Rd.	Arlington	22206	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 228-2500	595	41	14.5	37.8%	153 (25.7%)	27 (4.5%)	361 (60.7%)	17 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.1%)	65.3	412^th of 1110 public elementary schools	62.9%		67.6	385^th of 1114 public elementary schools	65.4%	27		76.5	73.2	76.5				80.0		76.5	79.4	81.2					72.0	$13,378	$11	$13,367
Glen Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5829 Glen Forest Dr	Falls Church	22041	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 578-8000	779	64	12.2	97.6%	195 (25.0%)	78 (10.0%)	412 (52.9%)	78 (10.0%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.7%)	9.3	1034^th of 1110 public elementary schools	6.8%		5.4	1076^th of 1114 public elementary schools	3.4%	42		52.2	49.5	52.6				41.1		43.2	53.4	53.7						$14,765	$1,629	$13,136
Bailey's Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-2	6111 Knollwood Dr	Falls Church	22041	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(703) 575-6800	814	60	13.6	72.4%	141 (17.3%)	29 (3.6%)	592 (72.7%)	32 (3.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.2%)								(n/a)																		$14,529	$1,268	$13,262
Abingdon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3035 S Abingdon St	Arlington	22206	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-6650	768	59	13.0	57.6%	242 (31.5%)	84 (10.9%)	309 (40.2%)	87 (11.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.6%)	26.4	868^th of 1110 public elementary schools	21.8%		28.8	857^th of 1114 public elementary schools	23.1%	11		49.3	66.1	68.8				58.4		40.7	61.9	57.5					74.0	$15,114	$823	$14,291

Frequently Asked Questions about John Adams Elementary

What schools do graduates of John Adams Elementary attend?

Students who attend John Adams Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Alexandria City High

What is the racial makeup of John Adams Elementary?

Students at John Adams Elementary are 41% Hispanic, 25% African American, 20% White, 11% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend John Adams Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 743 students attended John Adams Elementary.

Is John Adams Elementary a good school?

John Adams Elementary ranks in the bottom 15.9% of Virginia elementary schools.

What district is John Adams Elementary in?

Alexandria City Public Schools

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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.