Summary
Newington Forest Elementary is a PK–6 public school in Springfield, Virginia, serving roughly 579 students as part of Fairfax County Public Schools, a district ranked in the top third of Virginia. The school sits in the 65th percentile statewide (390th of 1,111 elementary schools), placing it solidly in the upper-middle tier. About 26% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a moderate rate for the area.
Academically, Newington Forest consistently beats district and state averages in elementary math, reading, and science. In 3rd grade math, proficiency reached 82–90% over the past three years versus district averages of 71–78%, and 5th grade science has topped district averages each year. Military-connected students perform exceptionally well here. However, 6th grade math is a persistent weak spot, falling below the district average in two of the last three years (63.9% vs. 69.3% in 2025–26), even as 6th grade reading stays strong. Students with disabilities and English Language Learners have shown uneven results recently, and there is a consistent gender gap favoring female students.
Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically, from 17.2% in 2022–23 to 9.3% in 2024–25—well below district (11.9%) and state (14.8%) averages, and far better than nearby Lorton Station Elementary (17.7%) and Halley Elementary (16.3%). The school also overperforms its poverty level, ranking 20–30 percentile points higher than Halley, Saratoga Elementary, and Lorton Station despite their higher poverty rates. At the same time, elite nearby schools like Sangster Elementary, Silverbrook Elementary, and Orange Hunt Elementary spend less per student yet outperform it—evidence that family demographics, school culture, and instruction matter more than budget alone. Overall, Newington Forest is a dependable mid-to-upper-tier school with solid academics, improving attendance, and clear opportunities for growth in 6th grade math and targeted student supports.
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