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Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

905^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,110 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 18% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary is a public magnet elementary school in Arlington, Virginia, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 435. The school is part of the Arlington County Public Schools district, which is ranked 28 out of 129 school districts in Virginia and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the district's strong performance, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary has consistently low academic achievement compared to the district and state averages. The school's statewide ranking has been in the bottom half of Virginia elementary schools for several years, with its students performing significantly below their peers on SOL (Standards of Learning) tests across all grade levels and subject areas. The school also experiences high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 13.2% to 19.3% in recent years, which is higher than the district and state averages.

When comparing Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary to nearby schools in the Arlington County Public Schools district, it consistently underperforms academically. Schools like Alice West Fleet Elementary, Abingdon Elementary, and Oakridge Elementary all have significantly higher academic achievement, as measured by SOL test scores, than Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary.

417

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,001

Per pupil spending ?

58%

Free/discounted lunch ?

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 — 29th percentile in 2015 → 18th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (57% vs 71% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school57%

District avg78%

Virginia avg71%

905^th of 1,110

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 18%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 29% (2015) to bottom 18% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 25Elementary Schools in the Arlington County Public Schools

28^th of 129Arlington 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)

English Language Learner (2025)56th percentile+38 vs school

White (2024)40th percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2025)31st percentile+13 vs school

African American (2024)22nd percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)22nd percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile~ school

Male (2025)15th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

VA Studies71%+3 vs state

Mathematics59%-14 vs state

Science55%-14 vs state

English Reading53%-17 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

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

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Mathematics (2025)			SOL Science (2025)	SOL English Reading (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 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%)	21.8	905^th of 1110 public elementary schools	18.5%		17.7	959^th of 1114 public elementary schools	13.9%	54	56.3	62.3	58.8	54.9	52.4	52.8	54.9	71.4	$22,001	$1,336	$20,665
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%)	41	712^th of 1110 public elementary schools	35.9%		33.4	799^th of 1114 public elementary schools	28.3%	87	67.5	68.3	72.0	69.3	53.2	64.2	64.9	85.1	$13,050	$204	$12,846
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
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%)	21.6	909^th of 1110 public elementary schools	18.1%		34.5	784^th of 1114 public elementary schools	29.6%	125	75.4	55.7	58.0	46.4	56.5	56.9	48.4	54.1	$21,140	$978	$20,163
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%)	51.5	582^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	47.6%		58.8	500^th of 1114 public elementary schools	55.1%	82	68.8	77.2	77.7	73.8	62.2	68.2	77.6	60.9	$13,050	$81	$12,969
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
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%)	41.1	710^th of 1110 public elementary schools	36.0%		32.3	807^th of 1114 public elementary schools	27.6%	97	68.3	60.9	73.8	63.1	60.4	70.6	70.3	65.9	$17,616	$750	$16,866
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%)	79.5	222^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	80.0%		79.4	220^th of 1114 public elementary schools	80.3%	2	91.0	75.0	85.5	79.0	94.0	91.2	85.5	77.6	$7,470	$00	$7,470
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%)	30.6	819^th of 1110 public elementary schools	26.2%		52.8	580^th of 1114 public elementary schools	47.9%	239	76.5	66.3	49.3	53.6	61.5	63.8	55.2	68.2	$18,503	$1,058	$17,445
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%)	53.4	560^th of 1110 public elementary schools	49.5%		54.1	570^th of 1114 public elementary schools	48.8%	10	63.0	69.4	74.6	81.8	66.7	68.8	74.1	77.8	$17,981	$71	$17,911

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary ranks in the bottom 18.5% 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 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.

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

Arlington County Public Schools

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

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

Rate Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary!

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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.