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J.B. Watkins Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

73^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

J.B. Watkins Elementary is a large PK-5 public school in Midlothian, Virginia, serving 913 students in Chesterfield County Public Schools, and it is one of the top-performing elementary schools in the entire state. The school currently ranks 73rd out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools, landing in the 93rd percentile with a 5-star rating. That consistency is impressive: over the past decade, J.B. Watkins has never fallen below the 83rd percentile and has spent most years in the 92nd–96th percentile range.

Academically, J.B. Watkins beats both its district and the state by wide margins. In the most recent school year, proficiency rates exceeded Virginia averages by 14 to 22 percentage points in every subject and grade level. Its strongest results are in 5th grade, where 94.4% of students were proficient in math and 92.8% in reading — roughly 20 points above state averages. Among ten nearby elementary schools, only W.W. Gordon Elementary and Woolridge Elementary rank higher in the state, while J.B. Watkins posts results comparable to Bettie Weaver Elementary while serving a far larger student body. Its free/reduced-price lunch rate of 17.5% is higher than several of its highest-performing peers, yet achievement remains top-tier.

J.B. Watkins also stands out for getting students to school. Only 7.3% of students were chronically absent, compared to 16.1% for the district and 14.8% statewide. The school spends $7,659 per student — moderate by local standards. Nearby Reams Road Elementary and Providence Elementary spend considerably more per student but serve much higher-poverty populations and post far lower scores. Most student subgroups at J.B. Watkins perform well above state medians, though military-connected students and a few other groups have more room to grow. Overall, this is a story of sustained academic excellence at scale, supported by strong attendance and efficient use of resources.

913

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,659

Per pupil spending ?

17.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

501 Coalfield Rd.
Midlothian, VA 23114-4406

(804) 378-2530

District: Chesterfield County Public Schools

Students who attend J.B. Watkins Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Midlothian Middle
High:	Midlothian High

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.1%

African American:

12.9%

Asian:

8.5%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare J.B. Watkins Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 83rd percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (90% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school90%

District avg71%

Virginia avg72%

73^rd of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From top 17% (2016) to top 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 41Elementary Schools in the Chesterfield County Public Schools

73^rd of 131Chesterfield 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	88.1	73 of 1111	93.4%	★★★★★
2025	89.2	63 of 1110	94.3%	★★★★★
2024	87.4	80 of 1114	92.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.2	59 of 1114	94.7%	★★★★★
2022	87.5	91 of 1109	91.8%	★★★★★
2021	87.2	119 of 1103	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	86.3	60 of 1105	94.6%	★★★★★
2018	88.4	44 of 1097	96.0%	★★★★★
2017	80.7	141 of 1099	87.2%	★★★★☆
2016	77.6	183 of 1096	83.3%	★★★★☆
2015	78.9	165 of 1100	85.0%	★★★★☆
2014	79.1	163 of 1110	85.3%	★★★★☆
2013	78.3	172 of 1120	84.6%	★★★★☆
2012	80.3	129 of 1117	88.5%	★★★★☆
2011	71.5	250 of 1117	77.6%	★★★★☆
2010	73.2	211 of 1113	81.0%	★★★★☆
2009	76.4	163 of 1082	84.9%	★★★★☆
2008	75.4	181 of 1081	83.3%	★★★★☆
2007	83.8	69 of 1083	93.6%	★★★★★
2006	71.2	251 of 1071	76.6%	★★★★☆
2005	81.4	118 of 1062	88.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	69.8	158 of 591	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	81.8	62 of 579	89.3%	★★★★☆
2024	88.8	31 of 588	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	89.1	32 of 579	94.5%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.8	44 of 246	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	70.2	73 of 249	70.7%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	29 of 238	87.8%	★★★★☆
2023	77.7	31 of 230	86.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	60.7	163 of 420	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.8	164 of 355	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.2	115 of 324	64.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	85.8	94 of 1100	91.5%	★★★★★
2025	87.7	70 of 1096	93.6%	★★★★★
2024	86.9	77 of 1098	93.0%	★★★★★
2023	87.7	66 of 1100	94.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	51 of 619	91.8%	★★★★★
2025	95.2	8 of 606	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	77.6	102 of 564	81.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	71.3	233 of 1040	77.6%	★★★★☆
2025	83.2	103 of 1046	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	81.0	111 of 1036	89.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	87.0	68 of 1099	93.8%	★★★★★
2025	88.4	59 of 1093	94.6%	★★★★★
2024	85.0	107 of 1101	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	88.1	62 of 1093	94.3%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	24.6	181 of 206	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	80.8	35 of 306	88.6%	★★★★☆
2025	57.9	125 of 271	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.0	94 of 247	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	85.1	25 of 245	89.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	86.0	45 of 974	95.4%	★★★★★
2025	84.0	70 of 973	92.8%	★★★★★
2024	79.7	123 of 979	87.4%	★★★★☆
2023	83.9	67 of 984	93.2%	★★★★★

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)95th percentile~ school

Male (2026)94th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)92nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)89th percentile-5 vs school

Asian (2026)82nd percentile-11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile-16 vs school

African American (2026)73rd percentile-20 vs school

Disabled (2026)61st percentile-32 vs school

Military Connected (2026)12th percentile-81 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics92%+18 vs state

VA Studies89%+19 vs state

English Reading89%+17 vs state

Science88%+19 vs state

4.0

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, July 23, 2016

JB Watkins offers a fantastic educational experience for children and a wonderful opportunity for parental involvement! Teachers are devoted to their students and the school offers great activities; (Jog Walk Club, Chess Club, Lego League, a Talent Show). Our family loves this school! Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, March 26, 2015

The teachers at JB Watkins are some of the hardest working people on the planet. They are creative, compassionate and talented. Our three children have had a fantastic experience at Watkins. Annual traditions like the Pumpkin Lighting and Spring Carnival are wonderful events that promote school spirit. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, October 1, 2012

We moved to the area for the neighborhood called The Grove. We have not been happy with the elementary school so far due to the crowding and one particular teacher. Students in the 4th and 5th grades are in very crowded and small trailers with very loud a/c units. One 4th grade teacher is disrespectful to children and is not very organized. We have had a hard time being able to speak with the Principal or Vice-Principal because they are "too busy" or out of town. Taxes are low here but so are the priorities of the county to provide good schools for the children. We are disappointed. Close Quote

Schools Near J.B. Watkins 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 (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
J.B. Watkins Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	501 Coalfield Rd.	Midlothian	23114	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 378-2530	913	55	16.4	17.5%	585 (64.1%)	118 (12.9%)	55 (6.0%)	78 (8.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	74 (8.1%)	88.1	73^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	93.4%		89.2	63^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	94.3%	10	90.8	89.5	94.4	87.9	82.0	91.2	92.8	89.2	$7,659	$00	$7,659
W.W. Gordon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11701 Gordon School Rd.	North Chesterfield	23236	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 378-2410	628	38	16.5	17.7%	469 (74.7%)	53 (8.4%)	48 (7.6%)	18 (2.9%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	36 (5.7%)	90.3	42^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	96.2%		89.6	54^th of 1110 public elementary schools	95.1%	12	96.6	96.3	89.8	89.8	81.8	95.3	89.8	95.2	$7,411	$250	$7,161
Evergreen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1701 E. Evergreen Pkwy	Midlothian	23114	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 378-2400	797	60	13.1	32.9%	459 (57.6%)	107 (13.4%)	115 (14.4%)	46 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	69 (8.7%)	45.9	664^th of 1111 public elementary schools	40.2%		49.2	608^th of 1110 public elementary schools	45.2%	56	79.6	60.5	72.3	69.3	67.7	67.5	72.3	62.5	$8,653	$211	$8,442
Old Hundred Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 Old Hundred Road	Midlothian	23114	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 379-2007	981	59	16.5	13.9%	652 (66.5%)	116 (11.8%)	92 (9.4%)	49 (5.0%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (6.9%)	77.7	236^th of 1111 public elementary schools	78.8%		81.3	189^th of 1110 public elementary schools	83.0%	47	83.2	83.3	88.2	84.6	74.7	83.2	86.7	85.9	$7,602	$00	$7,602
Swift Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	13800 Genito Rd.	Midlothian	23112	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 739-6305	724	47	15.4	27.5%	461 (63.7%)	92 (12.7%)	79 (10.9%)	36 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (7.7%)	76.9	254^th of 1111 public elementary schools	77.1%		87.5	83^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	92.5%	171	84.8	83.0	90.1	87.5	77.3	76.4	88.3	78.6	$7,244	$60	$7,183
Robious Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2801 Robious Crossing Dr.	Midlothian	23113	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 378-2500	660	48	13.7	23.8%	452 (68.5%)	53 (8.0%)	84 (12.7%)	27 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (6.5%)	76	269^th of 1111 public elementary schools	75.8%		81.1	197^th of 1110 public elementary schools	82.3%	72	74.5	83.1	85.6	83.7	73.3	87.3	85.6	88.6	$7,569	$00	$7,569
Reams Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10141 Reams Rd.	North Chesterfield	23236	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 674-1370	612	56	11.0	77.1%	221 (36.1%)	160 (26.1%)	163 (26.6%)	22 (3.6%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (6.9%)	43.4	698^th of 1111 public elementary schools	37.2%		32.2	807^th of 1110 public elementary schools	27.3%	109	68.0	70.0	69.3	75.6	62.5	65.5	69.8	66.4	$9,444	$562	$8,882
Greenfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10751 Savoy Rd.	North Chesterfield	23235	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 560-2720	519	37	14.0	31.2%	297 (57.2%)	74 (14.3%)	90 (17.3%)	14 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (8.5%)	78.2	229^th of 1111 public elementary schools	79.4%		81.3	192^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	82.7%	37	74.0	88.4	84.4	82.7	73.5	90.8	85.2	91.2	$9,400	$330	$9,070
Bettie Weaver Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3600 James River Rd	Midlothian	23113	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 378-2540	605	36	16.8	3.8%	541 (89.4%)	7 (1.2%)	23 (3.8%)	11 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.5%)	86.7	95^th of 1111 public elementary schools	91.4%		88.5	71^st of 1110 public elementary schools	93.6%	24	93.3	88.4	86.9	84.9	89.5	89.3	87.9	89.3	$7,214	$00	$7,214
Providence Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11001 W. Providence Rd.	North Chesterfield	23236	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 674-1345	682	56	12.2	76.4%	223 (32.7%)	223 (32.7%)	147 (21.6%)	26 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	59 (8.7%)	25	892^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	19.7%		26.6	863^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	22.3%	29	66.3	64.9	56.2	56.2	53.0	66.4	64.9	52.6	$9,208	$902	$8,306

Frequently Asked Questions about J.B. Watkins Elementary

Is J.B. Watkins Elementary a good school?

Yes. J.B. Watkins Elementary ranks in the top 6.6% of Virginia elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of J.B. Watkins Elementary attend?

Students who attend J.B. Watkins Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Midlothian Middle
High : Midlothian High

What district is J.B. Watkins Elementary in?

Chesterfield County Public Schools

How many students attend J.B. Watkins Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 913 students attended J.B. Watkins Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of J.B. Watkins Elementary?

Students at J.B. Watkins Elementary are 64% White, 13% African American, 9% Asian, 8% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

Rate J.B. Watkins Elementary!

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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.