Summary:
Zip code 20110 in Manassas, VA is home to 7 elementary-level schools serving grades PK-4, PK-5, or 1-8, split between Prince William County Public Schools and Manassas City Public Schools. The clear standout is Pennington Traditional, which ranks in the 96th percentile statewide with 100% proficiency in several middle-school subjects, just 2.9% chronic absenteeism, and the lowest per-pupil spending in the area. Bennett Elementary is a strong, above-average option in the same district, beating state averages in most subjects while serving a moderate-poverty population. Among the five Manassas City schools, Baldwin Elementary and Richard C. Haydon Elementary are the relative standouts, though both drop off sharply in 4th-grade math.
The two Prince William schools and five Manassas City schools represent two very different worlds. Prince William schools average about 34% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility, while Manassas City schools average nearly 88%. This socio-economic divide tracks closely with performance: Pennington and Bennett far outpace the Manassas City schools on nearly every SOL test. Notably, spending does not explain outcomes. George Carr Round Elementary spends the most in the zip code at $14,802 per student yet has the lowest rank and a 0-star rating, while Pennington spends the least at $10,164 and is the highest-ranked. Jennie Dean Elementary, Weems Elementary, and the other Manassas City schools all spend more than $11,500 per student yet struggle academically.
Several other insights stand out. Chronic absenteeism in Manassas City schools ranges from 12.3% to 14.8%, near or below the state average, so absenteeism is not the main driver of low test scores. Early math strength often fades: Baldwin and Haydon post 3rd-grade math scores at or above the state average, but both fall well below by 4th grade. George Carr Round has declined severely over three years, dropping from the 40th percentile to the 4th, with 4th-grade VA Studies proficiency at just 28.4%. Finally, because the Manassas City elementaries end at 4th grade, no 5th-grade data exists for them, leaving only Bennett and Pennington to compare at that level. Parents in 20110 should weigh the stark district differences, school performance trends, and poverty levels carefully when choosing a school.
Thank you for your feedback!