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W.G. Coleman Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

860^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

W.G. Coleman Elementary is a pre-K through 5th grade school in The Plains, Virginia, serving 355 students as part of Fauquier County Public Schools. In 2025–2026, it ranked 860th of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools, landing in the 23rd percentile with a 1-star rating — a sharp drop from 2022–2023, when it ranked 375th (66th percentile, 3 stars). About 39.4% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, and the student-teacher ratio is 14.7:1.

Academically, W.G. Coleman fell below the Fauquier district average in nearly every SOL subject and grade in the most recent testing year. The only exception was 4th grade math, where 77.3% of students were proficient versus the district's 75.7%. The largest gaps appeared in 5th grade reading (55.6% vs. 72.9% district), 5th grade math (58.3% vs. 74.1%), and 3rd grade math (57.5% vs. 72.0%). The school's 23rd percentile state rank trails every comparable nearby school, including Claude Thompson Elementary (39th percentile), Banneker Elementary (47th percentile), and C.M. Bradley Elementary (49th percentile). Notably, Claude Thompson, just 3 miles away, ranks higher despite a much higher poverty rate of 75.2% free/reduced lunch versus 39.4% at W.G. Coleman.

W.G. Coleman spends more per student than several higher-performing peers — $13,977 per pupil in 2023–2024, compared with $12,548 at P.B. Smith Elementary and $11,025 at C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary. Chronic absenteeism is not a major concern, with a rate of 10.3% below the district's 12.9% and the state's 14.8%. The school's most striking pattern is inconsistency: rankings swung from the 66th to the 23rd percentile in three years, and subgroup performance shifted dramatically, with male students dropping from the 55th to 17th percentile and Hispanic students from the 62nd to 15th percentile in just one year. With small grade-level cohorts, individual classes can heavily influence results. The school has proven it can perform well, so the challenge is delivering consistent outcomes across all grade levels and student groups.

355

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,757

Per pupil spending ?

39.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

4096 Zulla Road
The Plains, VA 20116

(540) 422-7550

District: Fauquier County Public Schools

Students who attend W.G. Coleman Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

Marshall Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.3%

Hispanic:

29.3%

Two or more races:

7.6%

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Compare W.G. Coleman Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 43rd percentile in 2016 → 23rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (62% vs 72% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg72%

Virginia avg72%

860^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 43% (2016) to bottom 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Fauquier County Public Schools

56^th of 131Fauquier 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	28.4	860 of 1111	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.9	618 of 1110	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.1	725 of 1114	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	67.6	375 of 1114	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.4	521 of 1109	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.4	538 of 1103	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.4	823 of 1105	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.0	873 of 1097	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	42.5	731 of 1099	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.5	629 of 1096	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.3	656 of 1100	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	66.2	344 of 1110	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	78.0	181 of 1120	83.8%	★★★★☆
2012	80.0	133 of 1117	88.1%	★★★★☆
2011	69.3	285 of 1117	74.5%	★★★★☆
2010	59.7	453 of 1113	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.9	325 of 1082	70.0%	★★★★☆
2008	36.1	812 of 1081	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	64.2	385 of 1083	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.5	375 of 1071	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.7	338 of 1062	68.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	36.7	769 of 1100	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.9	742 of 1096	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	727 of 1098	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.7	366 of 1100	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	21.1	529 of 619	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	62.3	233 of 606	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	17.0	517 of 580	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	55.6	276 of 564	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	845 of 1040	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.4	706 of 1046	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.4	906 of 1036	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	23.6	916 of 1099	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	57.9	487 of 1093	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.0	741 of 1101	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	63.5	401 of 1093	63.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	26.5	798 of 974	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.1	602 of 973	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.8	595 of 979	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.3	381 of 984	61.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

Female (2026)30th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)19th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)18th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)17th percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)15th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics65%-8 vs state

English Reading61%-10 vs state

Science54%-14 vs state

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by a parent
Tuesday, January 29, 2019

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Schools Near W.G. Coleman Elementary

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Ranking:

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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
W.G. Coleman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4096 Zulla Road	The Plains	20116	Fauquier County	Fauquier County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 422-7550	355	24	14.7	39.4%	207 (58.3%)	14 (3.9%)	104 (29.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.6%)	28.4	860^th of 1111 public elementary schools	22.6%		48.9	618^th of 1110 public elementary schools	44.3%	242	57.5	77.3	58.3	54.3	55.3	71.2	55.6		$12,757	$205	$12,552
Claude Thompson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3284 Rectortown Rd	Marshall	20115	Fauquier County	Fauquier County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 422-7690	254	17	14.9	75.2%	123 (48.4%)	5 (2.0%)	105 (41.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (8.3%)	44.8	681^st of 1111 public elementary schools	38.7%		48.7	621^st of 1110 public elementary schools	44.1%	60	75.0	66.7	88.9	66.7	67.5	60.4	66.7		$16,392	$1,318	$15,074
Middleburg Community Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	101 North Madison Street	Middleburg	20117	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(540) 687-5048	145	11	13.4	—	91 (62.8%)	8 (5.5%)	18 (12.4%)	22 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.1%)	84.1	143^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	87.1%		75.3	284^th of 1110 public elementary schools	74.4%	141	83.3	100.0	87.5	75.0	79.2	95.7	95.8	91.3	$27,077	$29	$27,048
J.W. Alvey Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	5300 Waverly Farm Dr.	Haymarket	20169	Prince William County	Prince William County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(571) 261-2556	523	32	16.4	9.6%	303 (57.9%)	40 (7.6%)	51 (9.8%)	86 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.2%)	89.6	51^st of 1111 public elementary schools	95.4%		89.3	61^st of 1110 public elementary schools	94.5%	10	95.5	92.0	92.6	92.7	85.1	91.0	93.6	87.0	$12,595	$187	$12,409
Samuel L. Gravely Junior Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	4670 Waverly Farm Drive	Haymarket	20169	Prince William County	Prince William County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(571) 248-4930	813	44	18.3	15.1%	496 (61.0%)	33 (4.1%)	140 (17.2%)	58 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	85 (10.5%)	85.9	106^th of 1111 public elementary schools	90.5%		86	104^th of 1110 public elementary schools	90.6%	2	86.5	87.9	92.8	92.0	79.7	86.5	92.8	91.4	$10,545	$127	$10,418
Banneker Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	35231 Snake Hill Rd	Middleburg	20117	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 751-2480	139	18	7.6	42.4%	83 (59.7%)	1 (0.7%)	40 (28.8%)	3 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	11 (7.9%)	52.1	590^th of 1111 public elementary schools	46.9%		70.2	350^th of 1110 public elementary schools	68.5%	240	86.7	62.1	82.1	67.9	73.3	58.6	82.1	72.7	$33,507	$832	$32,675
C.M. Bradley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	674 Hastings Ln	Warrenton	20186	Fauquier County	Fauquier County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 422-7510	362	28	12.9	30.9%	222 (61.3%)	27 (7.5%)	69 (19.1%)	9 (2.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	32 (8.8%)	54.6	562^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	49.4%		56.5	527^th of 1110 public elementary schools	52.5%	35	78.4	64.9	71.4	75.0	72.6	68.4	82.1		$14,732	$215	$14,516
P.B. Smith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6176 Dumfries Rd	Warrenton	20187	Fauquier County	Fauquier County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 422-7670	440	29	15.1	12.7%	302 (68.6%)	34 (7.7%)	54 (12.3%)	10 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (9.1%)	63.7	430^th of 1111 public elementary schools	61.3%		79.6	221^st of 1110 public elementary schools	80.1%	209	74.7	85.9	80.7	68.7	70.4	81.7	77.1		$12,195	$213	$11,982
Haymarket Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	15500 Learning Lane	Haymarket	20169	Prince William County	Prince William County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 468-2800	963	52	18.5	22.5%	416 (43.2%)	92 (9.6%)	129 (13.4%)	220 (22.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	103 (10.7%)	85.7	110^th of 1111 public elementary schools	90.1%		90.8	37^th of 1110 public elementary schools	96.7%	73	86.3	90.9	95.9	81.0	84.6	88.5	89.1	89.7	$10,756	$114	$10,643
C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4416 Broad Run Church Rd	New Baltimore	20187	Fauquier County	Fauquier County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 422-7650	525	33	15.9	18.5%	375 (71.4%)	20 (3.8%)	68 (13.0%)	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.2%)	84.1	141^st of 1111 public elementary schools	87.3%		72.3	320^th of 1110 public elementary schools	71.2%	179	78.1	95.4	90.3	79.2	89.0	89.5	93.1		$11,078	$214	$10,864

Frequently Asked Questions about W.G. Coleman Elementary

What schools do graduates of W.G. Coleman Elementary attend?

Students who attend W.G. Coleman Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Marshall Middle

What district is W.G. Coleman Elementary in?

Fauquier County Public Schools

Is W.G. Coleman Elementary a good school?

W.G. Coleman Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.6% of Virginia elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of W.G. Coleman Elementary?

Students at W.G. Coleman Elementary are 58% White, 29% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 4% African American.

How many students attend W.G. Coleman Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 355 students attended W.G. Coleman Elementary.

Rate W.G. Coleman Elementary!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 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.