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Carlin Springs Elementary

Q: Is Carlin Springs Elementary a good school?

Carlin Springs Elementary ranks in the bottom 9.5% of Virginia elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Carlin Springs Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 534 students attended Carlin Springs Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Carlin Springs Elementary?

Students at Carlin Springs Elementary are 77% Hispanic, 9% African American, 8% Asian, 4% White, 2% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Carlin Springs Elementary attend?

Students who attend Carlin Springs Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Kenmore Middle High : Washington-Liberty High

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1006^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 9% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Carlin Springs Elementary is a pre-K–5 public school in Arlington, VA, serving 534 students as part of the highly rated Arlington County Public Schools district, though the school itself has struggled academically for years.

Carlin Springs was once a middle-of-the-pack school in Virginia, ranking in the 52nd percentile statewide in 2015-16. By 2021-22, it had fallen to the very bottom of the state's elementary rankings. Its 2025-26 rank of 9th percentile (1006th of 1111 schools) marks a meaningful rebound from the 2nd percentile of the prior two years, but the school remains in the bottom decile. The school spends heavily at $19,050 per student and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 10.4 to 1, yet its 2025-26 SOL proficiency rates trail district and state averages by wide margins. For example, only 41.7% of 5th graders passed math, compared to 81.1% across the district and 72.4% statewide. Reading results show similar gaps.

The contrast with Campbell Elementary, located just 0.47 miles away, is striking. Both schools serve nearly identical percentages of low-income students (57.5% vs. 56.8%) and spend comparable amounts per pupil, yet Campbell ranks in the 77th percentile and posts 5th-grade math and reading scores roughly 40 and 33 points higher, respectively. Chronic absenteeism is one visible difference: Carlin's rate is 13.7% versus Campbell's 9.3%. There are encouraging signs, however. In 2025-26, 3rd-grade math jumped from 46.8% to 60.8%, 4th-grade math rose from 38.7% to 63.7%, and English Learner students moved from the 3rd to the 37th percentile statewide. Whether this momentum continues into 5th grade, where scores remain critically low, is the key question for parents considering this school.

534

Students ?

10.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,987

Per pupil spending ?

57.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

5995 South 5th Road
Arlington, VA 22204

(703) 228-6645

District: Arlington County Public Schools

Students who attend Carlin Springs Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Kenmore Middle
High:	Washington-Liberty High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

76.6%

African American:

9.2%

Asian:

8.2%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Carlin Springs Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — <1st percentile in 2022 → 9th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 9th (2026) from a <1st-percentile low (2022)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (52% vs 72% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!Science scores 27 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg79%

Virginia avg72%

1,006^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 42 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^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	12.9	1006 of 1111	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.8	1092 of 1110	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.9	1092 of 1114	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.7	1090 of 1114	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.2	1106 of 1109	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.6	1068 of 1103	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.2	1063 of 1105	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.2	966 of 1097	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	48.5	638 of 1099	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	56.3	527 of 1096	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.5	618 of 1100	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	33.4	848 of 1110	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.7	896 of 1120	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	35.0	873 of 1117	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.2	829 of 1117	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.5	977 of 1113	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.5	909 of 1082	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	9.8	1056 of 1081	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	2.1	1078 of 1083	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	15.4	1018 of 1071	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	8.6	1039 of 1062	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	38.9	198 of 315	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	13.6	316 of 326	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.4	279 of 306	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.8	266 of 300	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.7	1005 of 1100	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.8	1062 of 1096	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	1004 of 1098	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.4	1038 of 1100	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	23.7	505 of 619	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	7.0	592 of 606	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.3	556 of 580	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.0	550 of 564	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	32.2	771 of 1040	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.7	943 of 1046	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	979 of 1036	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	953 of 1099	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	3.9	1072 of 1093	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.2	1098 of 1101	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.2	1084 of 1093	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2026)37th percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile+16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)18th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)13th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)9th percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics56%-17 vs state

VA Studies54%-17 vs state

English Reading49%-22 vs state

Science42%-27 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 3, 2017

I love this school. Excellent Principal and teacher.
Ambiente tranquillo e positivo. Le segretarie e tutto il personale sono molto disponibili e gentilissimi. Il PTA è coinvolgente. Sono pienamente soddisfatta. Mi stupisce il fatto che il rating sia basso. La mia esperienza è più che positiva. Raccomando questa scuola. Close Quote

by a citizen
Saturday, June 13, 2015

Many students start with significant disadvantages. The teachers and administrators are wonderful at bringing out the best in each student. Many afterschool partners enrich the students' experiences. Close Quote

Schools Near Carlin Springs 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
Carlin Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5995 South 5th Road	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-6645	534	51	10.4	57.5%	19 (3.6%)	49 (9.2%)	409 (76.6%)	44 (8.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.9%)	12.9	1006^th of 1111 public elementary schools	9.5%		2.8	1092^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	1.6%	86	60.8	63.7	41.7	41.7	40.5	58.9	47.1	53.9	$23,987	$1,421	$22,566
Campbell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	737 S. Carlin Springs Rd.	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-6770	403	40	10.0	56.8%	164 (40.7%)	78 (19.4%)	98 (24.3%)	36 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.7%)	76.8	255^th of 1111 public elementary schools	77.0%		75.8	275^th of 1110 public elementary schools	75.2%	20	88.9	88.9	81.5	73.9	77.8	84.1	80.0	92.0	$22,813	$828	$21,984
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%)	8.6	1038^th of 1111 public elementary schools	6.6%		9.3	1034^th of 1110 public elementary schools	6.8%	4	56.6	53.2	41.5	40.4	44.7	53.2	54.6		$15,178	$1,245	$13,933
Ashlawn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5950 N. 8th Road	Arlington	22205	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-5270	553	44	12.4	23.3%	311 (56.2%)	27 (4.9%)	131 (23.7%)	34 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (9.0%)	85.2	121^st of 1111 public elementary schools	89.1%		85.6	110^th of 1110 public elementary schools	90.1%	11	87.8	87.8	90.8	90.7	80.6	87.8	88.0	90.9	$17,268	$125	$17,143
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)									$15,908	$1,147	$14,760
Bailey's Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences	Public, Magnet	3-5	6245 Leesburg Pike	Falls Church	22044	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(703) 503-2700	539	40	13.6	87.6%	62 (11.5%)	24 (4.5%)	416 (77.2%)	22 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.6%)	18.3	960^th of 1111 public elementary schools	13.6%		10.3	1022^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	7.9%	62	57.1	72.8	53.7	49.1	42.3	63.5	52.5		$16,378	$1,386	$14,992
Barrett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4401 N Henderson Rd	Arlington	22203	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 228-6288	500	52	9.5	57.0%	119 (23.8%)	44 (8.8%)	287 (57.4%)	22 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.4%)	22.3	924^th of 1111 public elementary schools	16.8%		25.3	877^th of 1110 public elementary schools	21.0%	47	51.3	53.7	69.9	60.2	54.0	56.7	60.2	61.1	$24,121	$1,070	$23,050
Escuela Key Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	855 N. Edison Street	Arlington	22205	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 228-4210	572	41	14.1	28.1%	168 (29.4%)	14 (2.4%)	322 (56.3%)	19 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (8.4%)	81.5	180^th of 1111 public elementary schools	83.8%		72.2	322^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	71.0%	142	94.3	84.4	86.9	77.1	83.0	83.3	84.3	93.4	$16,538	$00	$16,538
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
Arlington Traditional	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1030 N. McKinley Road	Arlington	22205	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 228-6290	624	44	14.2	35.3%	201 (32.2%)	117 (18.8%)	69 (11.1%)	175 (28.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (9.9%)	87.6	82^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	92.6%		93.5	14^th of 1110 public elementary schools	98.7%	68	92.3	94.8	93.4	76.9	92.3	91.4	90.0	87.9	$16,191	$00	$16,191

Frequently Asked Questions about Carlin Springs Elementary

What schools do graduates of Carlin Springs Elementary attend?

Students who attend Carlin Springs Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kenmore Middle
High : Washington-Liberty High

What is the racial makeup of Carlin Springs Elementary?

Students at Carlin Springs Elementary are 77% Hispanic, 9% African American, 8% Asian, 4% White, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Carlin Springs Elementary in?

Arlington County Public Schools

How many students attend Carlin Springs Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 534 students attended Carlin Springs Elementary.

Is Carlin Springs Elementary a good school?

Carlin Springs Elementary ranks in the bottom 9.5% of Virginia elementary schools.

Rate Carlin Springs 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.