Goochland Elementary

Goochland Elementary is a PK–5 school in Goochland County, Virginia, serving 509 students and operating as the largest of three elementary schools in Goochland County Public Schools. The school ranks 415th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (63rd percentile, 3 stars), placing it comfortably above the state average but behind its own district’s top performer, Randolph Elementary. Across eight SOL tests, Goochland averages about 77% proficiency — well above the state’s 71.6%, but below the district’s 80.2%.

The school’s biggest academic gaps appear in upper elementary. In 5th grade reading, Goochland’s 77.8% proficiency trails the district average by nearly seven points, and it is more than 12 points behind Randolph’s 90.3%. Fifth grade math and 4th grade math also lag similar schools in the district. Among its district peers, Goochland and Byrd Elementary post nearly identical SOL averages (~77%), while Randolph leads with ~87%. Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism sits at 10.2% — roughly double that of nearby high performers like Nuckols Farm Elementary (2.7%) and Gayton Elementary (4.2%), though it is still better than the state average of 14.8%.

Goochland spends $13,344 per student, one of the highest rates among comparison schools and far more than Randolph’s $10,374. Yet its results remain mid-pack, suggesting resources alone don’t drive outcomes here. The most encouraging sign is that economically disadvantaged students ranked at the 65th percentile statewide in the latest year, slightly above the school’s overall rank — though that figure swung sharply from the prior year. For parents, the key takeaway is that Goochland is a solid, above-average school in a strong district, but one that would benefit most from focused attention on upper-elementary learning and attendance.