Washington District Elementary

Washington District Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Colonial Beach, Virginia, serving 415 students in the Westmoreland County Public Schools district. The school earns a 3-star rating and ranks in the 59th percentile statewide—a placement that beats every nearby elementary school in the region and far exceeds its own district, which sits in the bottom third of Virginia districts.

Math is a standout subject. Third-grade math proficiency reaches 94.83%—almost 21 points above the state average and far ahead of nearby schools like Colonial Beach Elementary at 57.89% and King George Elementary at 79.05%. The school also achieves exceptional results with students facing economic challenges. Free/reduced lunch participation exceeds 100%, meaning nearly all students qualify, yet the low-socioeconomic-status subgroup ranks in the 83rd percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. That's especially impressive because high-poverty schools typically struggle to keep pace with state averages, let alone exceed them in most subjects.

This level of performance reflects sustained improvement, not luck. Since ranking in the 12th percentile in 2017–2018, Washington has climbed steadily and held 3-star status for three straight years. Chronic absenteeism (15.3%) is better than the district average, and per-student spending of $12,519 supports a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio—lower than most local peers. The sharpest contrast is with Cople Elementary, which sits in the same district, serves a similarly high-poverty population, and even spends more per student—yet ranks in the 14th percentile with far lower test scores. Reading consistency and upper-elementary science are areas to monitor, but Washington's upward trajectory makes it a regional standout.