Summary:
Zip code 20121 in Centreville, VA is served by three elementary schools—Bull Run Elementary, Centreville Elementary, and Centre Ridge Elementary—all part of Fairfax County Public Schools and serving grades PK-6. While these schools share the same district and grade span, they differ markedly in academic performance, poverty rates, and resource allocation, giving parents a varied educational landscape to consider.
Centreville Elementary is the strongest performer, holding the best state rank (362nd of 1,111 schools), the highest average SOL proficiency at 78.1%, and the lowest poverty rate at 37%. Bull Run Elementary is the most improved, jumping from the 39th to 59th percentile in one year, with average SOL proficiency rising from 66.5% to 75.3% and a striking +20.8 point gain in 3rd grade reading. Centre Ridge Elementary faces the steepest challenges, ranking 907th with just an 18th percentile and a 1-star rating, alongside a 73.1% poverty rate and the lowest scores in nearly every subject. Notably, Centre Ridge spends the most per student at $15,249, yet outcomes lag well behind its peers—and it actually has the best attendance in the group, so absenteeism is not the issue.
A clear relationship between poverty and performance emerges across these three schools: higher free/reduced lunch rates align with lower proficiency. The most actionable concern for all three is 6th grade performance, particularly math. Centreville's 6th grade math proficiency fell sharply from 80.0% to 59.1% in one year, and all three schools fall below the district average of 80.4% in 6th grade reading. While Centreville's state rank has slipped modestly for three consecutive years, it remains the top choice in the area, and Bull Run's rapid improvement makes it an increasingly attractive option. Centre Ridge, however, remains a high-priority school in need of continued support.
Thank you for your feedback!