Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Virginia rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Otter River Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

104^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 91% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Otter River Elementary is a small PK–5 school in Goode, VA, serving 167 students in Bedford County Public Schools. Despite its modest size, Otter River has become one of the highest-performing elementary schools in Virginia, ranking 104th out of 1,111 schools statewide (91st percentile, 5 stars) in 2025–2026 — a remarkable rise from 731st place in 2014–2015. The school now sits in the top 10% of Virginia elementary schools, well above its district's statewide ranking of 35th among 131 districts.

Academically, Otter River posts proficiency rates well above district and state averages in every subject and grade level. In 2025–2026, 3rd grade math proficiency reached 96%, compared to 82.3% for the district and 74% statewide; 3rd grade reading hit 88% versus 73.9% for the district and 67.6% for Virginia. Fifth grade science proficiency was 89.7%, far exceeding the district's 77.8% and the state's 68.8%. These results also outpace nearby schools: Big Island Elementary, a similarly small school, posts just 61.3% 3rd grade reading proficiency, while Bedford Elementary's 3rd grade math is only 62.5%. Even strong nearby schools like Thomas Jefferson Elementary and New London Academy are generally matched or slightly outpaced by Otter River in math and science.

Otter River also stands out for its effectiveness with student groups that often face achievement gaps. Its low-income students rank in the 89th–96th percentile statewide, and male students rank 41st out of 1,099 schools (96th percentile). The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 7.8% is well below the district (11.8%) and state (14.8%) averages. A low student-teacher ratio of 13.6 and per-student spending of $10,506 — higher than Forest Elementary's $7,713 — suggest smaller classes and more individualized attention. One area to watch is the female student subgroup, which ranks at the 77th percentile, strong but notably lower than male students. Overall, Otter River demonstrates that a small school with moderate poverty — 36.5% of students receiving free/reduced lunch — can achieve exceptional results.

167

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,506

Per pupil spending ?

36.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1044 Otter River Dr
Goode, VA 24556

(540) 586-9210

District: Bedford County Public Schools

Students who attend Otter River Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Forest Middle
High:	Jefferson Forest High

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.0%

Two or more races:

6.6%

African American:

5.4%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Otter River Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 34th percentile in 2015 → 91st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (89% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 9% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 57 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school89%

District avg77%

Virginia avg72%

104^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 9%▲ up 53 pts since 2016

From bottom 38% (2016) to top 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 12Elementary Schools in the Bedford County Public Schools

35^th of 131Bedford 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	86.0	104 of 1111	90.6%	★★★★★
2025	81.7	187 of 1110	83.2%	★★★★☆
2024	69.8	361 of 1114	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.1	313 of 1114	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	71.4	329 of 1109	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	66.9	383 of 1105	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.4	566 of 1097	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	65.4	371 of 1099	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	46.5	680 of 1096	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	43.3	731 of 1100	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	76.0	206 of 1110	81.4%	★★★★☆
2013	64.8	382 of 1120	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.6	480 of 1117	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	52.7	586 of 1117	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	62.0	410 of 1113	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	75.6	181 of 1082	83.3%	★★★★☆
2008	61.2	421 of 1081	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	78.3	141 of 1083	87.0%	★★★★☆
2006	63.4	377 of 1071	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	69.9	276 of 1062	74.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	248 of 1100	77.5%	★★★★☆
2025	74.7	272 of 1096	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	53.9	554 of 1098	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.2	370 of 1100	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	81.5	120 of 1046	88.5%	★★★★☆
2024	88.8	44 of 1036	95.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	89.4	41 of 1099	96.3%	★★★★★
2025	82.4	163 of 1093	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	77.5	231 of 1101	79.0%	★★★★☆
2023	73.5	264 of 1093	75.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.1	198 of 974	79.7%	★★★★☆
2025	65.8	342 of 973	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.6	499 of 979	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.8	481 of 984	51.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2026)96th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)89th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)80th percentile-11 vs school

Female (2026)77th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics92%+19 vs state

Science90%+21 vs state

English Reading87%+15 vs state

VA Studies81%+10 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Otter River Elementary and help other families decide.

Rate Otter River Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Otter River Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

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 (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 (2025)	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
Otter River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1044 Otter River Dr	Goode	24556	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 586-9210	167	12	13.6	36.5%	137 (82.0%)	9 (5.4%)	9 (5.4%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.6%)	86	104^th of 1111 public elementary schools	90.6%		81.7	187^th of 1110 public elementary schools	83.2%	83	96.0	90.5	89.7	89.7	88.0	85.7	86.2	81.0	$10,506	$395	$10,111
Bedford Primary	Public	PK, KG-1	807 College St	Bedford	24523	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 586-8339	266	20	13.4	103.0%	184 (69.2%)	35 (13.2%)	10 (3.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	35 (13.2%)								(n/a)									$10,636	$1,147	$9,489
Bedford Elementary	Public	2-5	806 Tiger Trail Road	Bedford	24523	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 586-0275	448	31	14.4	100.7%	312 (69.6%)	72 (16.1%)	17 (3.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (9.8%)	19.4	954^th of 1111 public elementary schools	14.1%		32.5	805^th of 1110 public elementary schools	27.5%	149	62.5	51.5	58.6	61.6	50.5	56.4	61.6	53.0	$9,331	$1,153	$8,178
Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	One Scholar Lane	Forest	24551	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 525-2681	384	22	17.6	18.0%	273 (71.1%)	18 (4.7%)	32 (8.3%)	36 (9.4%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.5%)	75.7	271^st of 1111 public elementary schools	75.6%		84.2	141^st of 1110 public elementary schools	87.3%	130	89.9	68.7	90.0	91.8	88.4	85.7	86.9	73.8	$7,713	$582	$7,132
Thomas Jefferson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1255 Patriot Place	Forest	24551	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 534-6159	567	35	16.1	24.5%	404 (71.3%)	38 (6.7%)	51 (9.0%)	29 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (7.9%)	84.3	140^th of 1111 public elementary schools	87.4%		84.2	140^th of 1110 public elementary schools	87.4%		89.0	85.9	93.0	88.7	81.0	87.4	85.7	87.4	$8,846	$336	$8,510
New London Academy Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1133 Academy Lane	Forest	24551	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 525-2177	330	22	15.0	31.8%	260 (78.8%)	20 (6.1%)	21 (6.4%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.7%)	86	105^th of 1111 public elementary schools	90.5%		80.4	211^th of 1110 public elementary schools	81.0%	106	90.2	92.9	85.7	83.3	92.2	85.7	85.7	91.1	$8,950	$528	$8,422
Tomahawk Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	155 Bee Drive	Lynchburg	24502	Lynchburg city	Campbell County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 237-4090	667	46	14.6	76.9%	418 (62.7%)	100 (15.0%)	81 (12.1%)	17 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.5%)	51.2	597^th of 1111 public elementary schools	46.3%		51.7	578^th of 1110 public elementary schools	47.9%	19	76.4	81.3	70.2	53.5	75.5	75.0	67.5	73.0	$7,481	$432	$7,050
Boonsboro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1234 Eagle Circle	Lynchburg	24503	Lynchburg city	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 384-2881	309	19	16.2	26.5%	253 (81.9%)	22 (7.1%)	16 (5.2%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.5%)	76.2	266^th of 1111 public elementary schools	76.1%		74.5	294^th of 1110 public elementary schools	73.5%	28	87.5	69.1	89.4	88.0	85.7	81.5	81.6	84.6	$8,031	$318	$7,714
Big Island Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1114 Schooldays Rd	Big Island	24526	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 299-5863	182	12	14.9	82.4%	153 (84.1%)	7 (3.8%)	9 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.6%)	56.9	527^th of 1111 public elementary schools	52.6%		51.6	580^th of 1110 public elementary schools	47.7%	53	90.3	79.2	93.3	66.7	61.3	66.7	73.3	70.8	$9,621	$757	$8,865
Leesville Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	25 Lewis Way	Lynchburg	24502	Lynchburg city	Campbell County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 239-0303	646	44	14.5	78.6%	361 (55.9%)	108 (16.7%)	94 (14.6%)	17 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	65 (10.1%)	64.6	418^th of 1111 public elementary schools	62.4%		66.9	392^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	64.7%	26	77.2	82.0	80.4	71.0	66.3	80.9	78.7	81.8	$8,282	$625	$7,657

Frequently Asked Questions about Otter River Elementary

Is Otter River Elementary a good school?

Yes. Otter River Elementary ranks in the top 9.4% of Virginia elementary schools.

What district is Otter River Elementary in?

Bedford County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Otter River Elementary?

Students at Otter River Elementary are 82% White, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American, 5% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Otter River Elementary attend?

Students who attend Otter River Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Forest Middle
High : Jefferson Forest High

How many students attend Otter River Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 167 students attended Otter River Elementary.

Rate Otter River Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

VAVirginia Elementary School Rankings

VAVirginia District Rankings

Schools in Goode, VA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Otter River Elementary!

Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 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.