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Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

949^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary is a PK–5 school in Arlington, VA, serving 417 students within Arlington County Public Schools, a district ranked in the top 20% statewide — yet Drew itself consistently ranks near the bottom of Virginia elementary schools, placing in the 15th percentile with a 1-star rating in 2025–2026.

Academic proficiency at Drew trails the district by 20 to 30 percentage points in most subjects and grades. In 5th grade, only 49% of students passed the reading SOL compared to 79% districtwide, and 45% passed science versus 76% districtwide. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 20.1% — the highest among nearby schools, roughly double the district average, and well above Oakridge Elementary (8.7%), Claremont Immersion (10.7%), and Barcroft Elementary (13.7%). Notably, Drew spends more per student ($22,001) than any nearby school and maintains a low 10:1 student-teacher ratio, yet neighbors spending far less, such as Montessori Public School of Arlington ($7,470 per student), achieve much stronger results and rank in the 82nd percentile.

Reading proficiency actually declines as students progress through Drew, falling from 58.5% in 3rd grade to 49% in 5th grade — a pattern suggesting students are not building skills at the same pace as peers elsewhere in the district. Drew has earned a 1-star rating in most years since 2015, and its ranking has remained essentially flat for a decade despite significant funding and small class sizes. The school does show relative strength for certain groups — English learners perform near the middle statewide, for example — but overall, the data points to attendance and instructional effectiveness, rather than money or class size, as the areas most needing attention.

417

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,813

Per pupil spending ?

58.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

3500 South 23rd Street
Arlington, VA 22206-2501

(703) 228-5825

District: Arlington County Public Schools

Students who attend Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary usually attend:

High:

Wakefield High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.4%

African American:

30.5%

White:

15.8%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 24th percentile in 2016 → 15th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (57% vs 72% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg79%

Virginia avg72%

949^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 24% (2016) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

24^th of 25Elementary Schools in the Arlington County Public Schools

26^th of 131Arlington County 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
2026	19.5	949 of 1111	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.8	905 of 1110	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	959 of 1114	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.4	976 of 1114	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.1	809 of 1109	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.9	855 of 1103	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.3	860 of 1105	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	968 of 1097	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	50.7	608 of 1099	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.2	838 of 1096	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	38.2	786 of 1100	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.9	825 of 1110	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.2	981 of 1120	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	19.5	1027 of 1117	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	26.2	983 of 1117	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	19.3	1039 of 1113	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	6.3	1068 of 1082	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	2.5	1074 of 1081	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	14.3	1035 of 1083	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	35.1	836 of 1071	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	17.9	982 of 1062	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	27.8	484 of 591	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.6	457 of 588	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.9	524 of 579	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	39.0	197 of 315	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.2	142 of 326	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.9	199 of 306	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.5	168 of 300	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	25.4	885 of 1100	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.2	852 of 1096	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.7	900 of 1098	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.9	954 of 1100	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	24.1	502 of 619	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.2	416 of 606	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.2	497 of 580	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.6	425 of 564	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	20.9	913 of 1040	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.7	850 of 1046	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.7	845 of 1036	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.2	959 of 1099	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.6	924 of 1093	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	971 of 1101	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	993 of 1093	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.3	223 of 974	77.1%	★★★★☆
2024	48.0	586 of 979	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.1	607 of 984	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2026)77th percentile+63 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)37th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)20th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)19th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2026)18th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)13th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies68%~ state avg

Mathematics60%-13 vs state

English Reading54%-18 vs state

Science45%-23 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, June 18, 2018

I can't speak to the general program, but the Montessori program at Drew is wonderful. We had our child a supposedly "better" neighborhood school, but were unhappy there the administration was rigid, the school was overcrowded, the principal was distant... The principal at Drew is wonderful, the teachers are caring, the Montessori experience is very child-centered, we have no complaints. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 19, 2016

This school is made up of two different "schools" in one building. I have two boys that go there in the Montessori program. One is in Kindergarten and the other is Pk-3. We love the school and are very grateful that we got into the Montessori program there. The Montessori goes from 3 years old until 5th grade. The teachers are great and very involved. The principal for the entire school has a Montessori background. The only reason I didn't give the school 5 stars is because of the two schools in one model. The school board is talking about moving the Montessori students to their own school in 2-4 years. Close Quote

Schools Near Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL VA Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3500 South 23rd Street	Arlington	22206	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(703) 228-5825	417	41	10.0	58.0%	66 (15.8%)	127 (30.5%)	181 (43.4%)	27 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.6%)	19.5	949^th of 1111 public elementary schools	14.6%		21.8	905^th of 1110 public elementary schools	18.5%	44	60.6	54.8	66.0	45.3	58.5	52.5	49.0	68.3	$25,813	$1,072	$24,741
Charles Barrett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1115 Martha Custis Dr	Alexandria	22302	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 824-6960	547	38	14.3	51.4%	193 (35.3%)	55 (10.1%)	274 (50.1%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.6%)	35.8	775^th of 1111 public elementary schools	30.2%		41	712^th of 1110 public elementary schools	35.9%	63	53.9	66.7	69.6	70.9	52.3	56.8	72.2	79.0	$14,318	$26	$14,291
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%)	24.8	898^th of 1111 public elementary schools	19.2%		26.4	868^th of 1110 public elementary schools	21.8%	30	63.8	57.6	67.0	68.6	55.7	59.9	61.9	46.8	$17,402	$1,274	$16,128
Randolph Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1306 S Quincy St	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-5830	430	44	9.7	57.9%	69 (16.0%)	63 (14.7%)	242 (56.3%)	34 (7.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.7%)	30.4	837^th of 1111 public elementary schools	24.7%		21.6	909^th of 1110 public elementary schools	18.1%	72	74.3	68.1	60.7	60.7	61.1	49.3	60.7	61.7	$23,349	$979	$22,371
Oakridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1414 24th St S	Arlington	22202	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-5840	636	43	14.6	31.9%	238 (37.4%)	134 (21.1%)	157 (24.7%)	56 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (8.0%)	57.4	515^th of 1111 public elementary schools	53.6%		51.5	582^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	47.6%	67	78.5	71.1	85.5	73.6	64.8	68.8	77.8	73.1	$15,090	$88	$15,003
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%)	76.7	259^th of 1111 public elementary schools	76.7%		65.3	412^th of 1110 public elementary schools	62.9%	153	86.3	80.0	85.4	80.9	76.3	80.0	84.3	94.7	$15,625	$00	$15,625
Hoffman-Boston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1415 S Queen St	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-5845	592	52	11.3	43.8%	153 (25.8%)	147 (24.8%)	131 (22.1%)	127 (21.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.6%)	30.5	835^th of 1111 public elementary schools	24.8%		41.1	710^th of 1110 public elementary schools	36.0%	125	69.6	62.7	59.8	45.5	63.2	69.2	65.4	63.5	$20,028	$706	$19,322
Montessori Public School Of Arlington	Public	PK, KG-5	701 S Highland Street	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-8871	528	34	15.5	28.2%	191 (36.2%)	90 (17.0%)	125 (23.7%)	75 (14.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (8.7%)	79.7	204^th of 1111 public elementary schools	81.6%		79.5	222^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	80.0%	18	82.9	93.9	79.5	79.5	81.6	90.9	87.7	81.8	$16,639	$00	$16,639
Barcroft Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	625 S Wakefield St	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-5838	495	46	10.8	57.2%	133 (26.9%)	45 (9.1%)	277 (56.0%)	18 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.2%)	28.6	856^th of 1111 public elementary schools	23.0%		30.6	819^th of 1110 public elementary schools	26.2%	37	48.1	61.3	73.6	65.5	57.9	53.2	62.1	67.7	$23,067	$1,117	$21,950
George Mason Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2601 Cameron Mills Rd	Alexandria	22302	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 706-4470	332	24	14.1	41.6%	164 (49.4%)	32 (9.6%)	119 (35.8%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.3%)	42.4	705^th of 1111 public elementary schools	36.5%		53.4	560^th of 1110 public elementary schools	49.5%	145	70.2	59.1	66.7	74.5	66.0	59.1	72.6	75.8	$18,655	$00	$18,655

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

How many students attend Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 417 students attended Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary?

Students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary are 43% Hispanic, 30% African American, 16% White, 6% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Is Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary a good school?

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary ranks in the bottom 14.6% of Virginia elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Wakefield High

What district is Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary in?

Arlington County Public Schools

Rate Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

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.