Summary
Randolph Elementary is a PK–5 public elementary school in Arlington, Virginia, serving roughly 430 students as part of Arlington County Public Schools, a district rated in the top 20% of Virginia. Randolph stands out for its strong resources: it spends $21,140 per student and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 9.7. Chronic absenteeism has also improved dramatically, dropping from 21.8% in 2022–23 to 11.0% in 2024–25, which is better than both the district (12.1%) and state (14.8%) averages. About 58% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
However, the school’s academic results tell a different story. Randolph is ranked in the 25th percentile of Virginia elementary schools with a 1-star rating, placing it among the lower-performing schools in an otherwise high-achieving district. Nearby schools show that high spending and small classes do not guarantee success: Claremont Immersion and Montessori Public School of Arlington both spend significantly less per student yet achieve far stronger results. Campbell Elementary, with a similar share of economically disadvantaged students, ranks in the 77th percentile. Meanwhile, Drew and Barrett—like Randolph—spend over $20,000 per student but also struggle academically. This pattern suggests the gaps are driven by instructional approach and school leadership rather than funding alone.
Looking at the details, reading proficiency is weakest in 4th grade, where just 49.3% of students meet the bar versus a district average of 78.7%, a roughly 30-point gap. Math scores also decline as students move up, from 74.3% in 3rd grade to 60.7% in 5th grade. The school shows relative strengths for some student groups, including African American students, English Language Learners, and low-income students, all of whom score near or above the 50th percentile. Hispanic students, however, rank at the 16th percentile, representing the school’s most significant concern. On the positive side, the sharp improvement in attendance and the bright spots among several subgroups suggest recent engagement efforts may be taking hold. The biggest opportunities are boosting 4th-grade literacy, reversing the math slide in upper grades, and focusing supports on Hispanic students.
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