Summary:
Zip code 20187 is served by 3 public schools in Fauquier County Public Schools — two elementary schools (PK–5) and one middle school (6–8) — with a total enrollment of 1,535 students and no high school located within the zip code. The district ranks 56th out of 131 districts in Virginia, earning a 3-star rating. All three schools share a notable strength: chronic absenteeism is remarkably low, ranging from 6.5% to 8.6%, compared to 12.9% district-wide and 14.8% statewide.
C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary is the standout elementary school in the area, ranked in the 87th percentile (4 stars) with impressive 2025-26 test scores — 93% proficiency in 5th-grade reading and 95% in 4th-grade math. It climbed from the 71st to the 87th percentile in one year. Meanwhile, P.B. Smith Elementary has dropped from the 80th to the 61st percentile over the same period, making it the lowest-ranked school in the zip code despite spending the most per student ($12,548). Auburn Middle ranks in the 82nd percentile (4 stars) and has improved steadily over three years, with exceptional advanced math results: 100% proficiency in Geometry and 7th-grade Algebra I.
Reading is a consistent strength across all three schools, with nearly every grade level exceeding district and state averages. Free/reduced lunch eligibility is relatively low (12.7% to 18.5%), suggesting a generally affluent area. Notably, spending does not predict performance — P.B. Smith spends the most per student but ranks lowest, while Auburn Middle spends the least but performs strongly. Families should also note that with no high school in the zip code, public high school students will need to commute to schools outside 20187.
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