Dumfries Elementary

Dumfries Elementary is a PK–5 school in Dumfries, VA, serving 441 students within Prince William County Public Schools. The school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 18th percentile statewide — a significant drop from the previous two years when it sat at the 32nd percentile. It serves a high-need population, with 71.9% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch in 2024-25.

Academically, Dumfries Elementary lags behind district and state averages across nearly every SOL subject. For example, 5th grade science proficiency was 48.8% compared to 72.2% district-wide, and 3rd grade reading reached only 53.2% proficiency versus the district's 72.8%. Among 11 nearby elementary schools, only Triangle Elementary ranks lower. The contrast with John F. Pattie Senior Elementary is especially striking — Pattie serves a similar high-poverty population but ranks in the 91st percentile while spending roughly 40% less per student ($8,568 vs. $14,140). This suggests that funding levels alone don't determine outcomes.

There are encouraging signs. Chronic absenteeism has fallen dramatically from 26.5% in 2021-22 to 11.4% in 2024-25, now better than district and state averages. The school also shows relative strength with English Language Learners (45th percentile) and low-income students (38th percentile), both ranking above the school's overall standing. However, year-to-year results are volatile — the African American subgroup ranking dropped from the 94th percentile to the 62nd percentile in one year, and 3rd grade math fell from 83.6% to 67.5%. Families may want to monitor multiple years of data before drawing conclusions about the school's trajectory.