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Barack Obama Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

864^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 22% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Barack Obama Elementary is a PK–5 school in Richmond, Virginia, serving 274 students in the Richmond City Public Schools district, where it ranked in the 22nd percentile of Virginia elementary schools in 2025–26. The school holds a 1-star rating but turned in one of its stronger years in the last decade, climbing from the 13th percentile in 2024–25. Nearly every student comes from a low-income household — the free/reduced-price lunch rate was 100.36% in 2024–25 — yet the school outperforms most of its immediate neighbors by a wide margin, and its 12.1 student-teacher ratio is favorable compared with many nearby schools.

Reading is the school's clear strength. In 2025–26, 69.4% of 3rd graders and 73.8% of 4th graders scored proficient in reading, essentially matching the state average and far exceeding the district average of 46.6%. Nearby schools serving similar populations tell a different story: Overby-Sheppard Elementary (24.3%), George W. Carver Elementary (26.1%), and Woodville Elementary (37.8%) all trailed significantly in 3rd grade reading. Chronic absenteeism is another standout: at 14.8%, it matches the state average and is less than half the rate at George W. Carver Elementary (47.5%) and Fairfield Court Elementary (31.1%). Among the ten nearby elementary schools, only Linwood Holton Elementary and William Fox Elementary rank higher overall.

Challenges remain. Average 3rd–5th grade math proficiency is 56.9% versus 68.6% for reading, and 5th grade science (47.9%) trails the state average (68.8%) by a wide margin. Male students rank at the 10th percentile, well behind female students (44th) and low-income students (45th), suggesting a need for targeted literacy and engagement efforts for boys. The school spends about $13,214 per student — less than Woodville Elementary ($18,722) and Fairfield Court Elementary ($18,447), which post far worse results — indicating that school-level practices, not raw spending, are driving the gains. With strong attendance, a low student-teacher ratio, and improving subgroup outcomes, Barack Obama Elementary is one of the more promising schools in a district ranked near the bottom of Virginia.

274

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,548

Per pupil spending ?

100.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3101 Fendall Ave
Richmond, VA 23222-2699

(804) 780-4879

District: Richmond City Public Schools

Students who attend Barack Obama Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Thomas H. Henderson Middle
High:	Franklin Military Academy
	John Marshall High
	Open High
	Richmond Community High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

73.0%

White:

17.9%

Two or more races:

5.1%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Barack Obama Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 5th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (61% vs 72% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Science scores 21 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school61%

District avg52%

Virginia avg72%

864^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 22%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 5% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 26Elementary Schools in the Richmond City Public Schools

118^th of 131Richmond City 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	28.2	864 of 1111	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.5	966 of 1110	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.4	837 of 1114	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.4	913 of 1114	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.8	857 of 1109	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	5.8	1056 of 1103	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	35.5	810 of 1105	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	46.2	691 of 1097	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	56.6	519 of 1099	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	10.7	1041 of 1096	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	43.2	732 of 1100	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	35.2	820 of 1110	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	9.6	1083 of 1120	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	64.7	363 of 1117	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.2	505 of 1117	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	70.2	266 of 1113	76.1%	★★★★☆
2009	71.8	250 of 1082	76.9%	★★★★☆
2008	74.5	196 of 1081	81.9%	★★★★☆
2007	84.2	62 of 1083	94.3%	★★★★★
2006	83.7	60 of 1071	94.4%	★★★★★
2005	89.9	11 of 1062	99.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	34.1	438 of 591	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.6	499 of 579	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.8	391 of 588	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.5	397 of 579	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	49.0	617 of 1100	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.6	875 of 1096	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	728 of 1098	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.9	924 of 1100	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	48.3	570 of 1040	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	17.2	949 of 1046	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.7	786 of 1036	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	15.3	984 of 1099	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.9	1008 of 1093	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	37.1	761 of 1101	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.4	875 of 1093	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)45th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)44th percentile+22 vs school

African American (2026)26th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)10th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Reading68%-3 vs state

VA Studies64%-6 vs state

Mathematics57%-16 vs state

Science48%-21 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Great School! Students wear uniforms and classrooms are uniformed. This school offers afterschool programs, and activities for the majority of their students. What impressed me the most their PTA, community partnership and friendly atmosphere. I would recommend this school to anyone parent. Close Quote

Schools Near Barack Obama 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 (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/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
Barack Obama Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3101 Fendall Ave	Richmond	23222	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-4879	274	23	12.1	100.4%	49 (17.9%)	200 (73.0%)	9 (3.3%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	28.2	864^th of 1111 public elementary schools	22.2%		16.5	966^th of 1110 public elementary schools	13.0%	102	57.1	59.5	54.2	47.9	69.4	73.8	62.5	64.3	$14,548	$569	$13,978
Overby-Sheppard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2300 1st Ave	Richmond	23222	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 329-2515	256	23	11.2	97.3%	5 (2.0%)	223 (87.1%)	15 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.7%)	14.6	992^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	10.7%		21	917^th of 1110 public elementary schools	17.4%	75	29.7	45.1	72.2	50.0	24.3	61.5	52.8	55.8	$15,272	$1,386	$13,885
Frances W. McClenney Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3817 Chamberlayne Ave	Richmond	23227	Henrico County	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-8193	302	17	17.3	100.3%	13 (4.3%)	264 (87.4%)	8 (2.6%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.0%)	3.4	1087^th of 1111 public elementary schools	2.2%		2.2	1098^th of 1110 public elementary schools	1.1%	11	50.0	18.4	41.1	33.9	42.9	47.4	46.4	31.6	$13,544	$700	$12,844
George W. Carver Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1110 W Leigh St	Richmond	23220	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-6247	404	26	15.6	99.8%	6 (1.5%)	359 (88.9%)	11 (2.7%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (5.2%)	0.4	1111^th of 1111 public elementary schools	0.0%		1.2	1106^th of 1110 public elementary schools	0.4%	5	24.3	16.3	25.6	22.7	26.1	32.7	41.9	22.9	$15,842	$3,611	$12,231
Linwood Holton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 W. Laburnum Ave	Richmond	23227	Henrico County	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 228-5310	433	30	14.6	103.7%	243 (56.1%)	147 (33.9%)	12 (2.8%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.8%)	65.1	412^th of 1111 public elementary schools	62.9%		62	454^th of 1110 public elementary schools	59.1%	42	82.0	78.9	80.6	74.6	63.9	83.7	79.1	74.3	$12,499	$19	$12,481
Laburnum Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Meriwether Ave	Richmond	23222	Richmond city	Henrico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 228-2720	466	36	12.9	89.3%	17 (3.6%)	382 (82.0%)	42 (9.0%)	15 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.1%)	0.8	1110^th of 1111 public elementary schools	0.1%		2	1100^th of 1110 public elementary schools	0.9%	10	25.0	37.7	27.8	26.4	29.6	41.6	38.0		$13,520	$1,169	$12,351
Glen Lea Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3909 Austin Ave	Richmond	23222	Richmond city	Henrico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 228-2725	461	30	15.3	88.7%	10 (2.2%)	415 (90.0%)	25 (5.4%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	1.8	1100^th of 1111 public elementary schools	1.0%		1	1110^th of 1110 public elementary schools	0.0%	10	27.1	39.5	40.0	34.6	27.9	47.7	40.7		$13,145	$1,460	$11,685
William Fox Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2300 Hanover Ave	Richmond	23220	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 780-6259	367	25	14.9	100.0%	158 (43.1%)	139 (37.9%)	23 (6.3%)	16 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (8.2%)	55.2	557^th of 1111 public elementary schools	49.9%		57.4	512^th of 1110 public elementary schools	53.9%	45	75.0	70.7	75.4	77.1	70.0	71.9	78.7	66.7	$12,245	$284	$11,962
Fairfield Court Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2510 Phaup St	Richmond	23223	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-4639	222	19	11.9	99.5%	2 (0.9%)	196 (88.3%)	14 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.1%)	5.2	1066^th of 1111 public elementary schools	4.1%		14.3	987^th of 1110 public elementary schools	11.1%	79	37.5	62.5	43.3	30.0	28.1	43.8	43.3	40.6	$22,299	$2,166	$20,133
Harold Macon Ratcliffe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2901 Thalen St	Richmond	23223	Richmond city	Henrico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 343-6535	417	32	13.1	89.7%	2 (0.5%)	375 (89.9%)	25 (6.0%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.4%)	4.6	1078^th of 1111 public elementary schools	3.0%		2.5	1096^th of 1110 public elementary schools	1.3%	18	36.5	37.3	45.6	43.9	47.6	42.4	49.1		$13,893	$1,425	$12,468

Frequently Asked Questions about Barack Obama Elementary

What district is Barack Obama Elementary in?

Richmond City Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Barack Obama Elementary?

Students at Barack Obama Elementary are 73% African American, 18% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

How many students attend Barack Obama Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 274 students attended Barack Obama Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Barack Obama Elementary attend?

Students who attend Barack Obama Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Thomas H. Henderson Middle
High : Franklin Military Academy
High : John Marshall High
High : Open High
High : Richmond Community High

Is Barack Obama Elementary a good school?

Barack Obama Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.2% of Virginia elementary schools.

Rate Barack Obama Elementary!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

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