Summary:
Zip code 20115, encompassing the rural town of Marshall, Virginia, is served by a single elementary school, Claude Thompson Elementary, which enrolls 254 students in grades PK–5 within Fauquier County Public Schools.
Claude Thompson Elementary is the only elementary option in this zip code, so no local school-to-school comparison is possible; instead, its performance is best understood against its district, Fauquier County Public Schools, and Virginia state averages. The school’s most reliable strength is 5th grade math, with 88.9% proficiency in 2025–2026 (well above the district’s 74.1% and state’s 72.4%) and 86.7% in 2024–2025. Science in 5th grade was also a standout in 2024–2025 at 86.7% versus 64.2% district and 68.9% state, though it dropped to 66.7% the following year. Reading is the biggest challenge, especially in 4th grade, where 2025–2026 proficiency was 60.4% compared to roughly 73.8% district and state averages; 3rd grade reading improved from a concerning 50.0% in 2024–2025 to 67.5% in 2025–2026, nearly matching the state.
State rankings for Claude Thompson have fluctuated from the 30th percentile in 2023–2024 to 44th in 2024–2025, then back to 39th in 2025–2026, placing it in the lower-middle range of Virginia elementary schools. The school has a high poverty rate, with 75.2% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet chronic absenteeism sits at 13.6%—below the state average of 14.8%. Spending per student is $14,490 with a student-teacher ratio of 14.9, indicating solid resource support. Overall, the school’s average proficiency across all tests in 2025–2026 is about 70.3%, just a point below district and state averages, but the wide gaps between grades and subjects suggest uneven instructional or cohort effects rather than a uniform pattern. Parents should view the school as a mid-tier option with strong upper-elementary math, a developing literacy program, and notable year-to-year volatility driven by its small enrollment.
Thank you for your feedback!