Summary:
Zip code 20194 in Reston, Virginia is home to two public elementary schools—Aldrin Elementary and Armstrong Elementary—both serving grades PK-6 through Fairfax County Public Schools. Since this zip code contains only elementary schools, students must leave the area for middle and high school, making these two schools the entry point for local education. Both schools belong to a district ranked 39th out of 131 Virginia districts with a 4-star rating.
Aldrin Elementary is the clear standout in the area. It ranks 193rd out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (83rd percentile, 4 stars), with an average SOL proficiency around 83.9%. Aldrin posts exceptional results in 4th grade math (94.7%) and 6th grade reading (91.8%), and its chronic absenteeism rate of 7.8% is far better than the district (11.9%) and state (14.8%). Its main weakness is 6th grade math at 61.3% proficiency, below both district and state averages. Aldrin improved from 307th to 193rd in state rank over the past year, and its 5th grade math jumped 20 points to 84.6%.
Armstrong Elementary is improving but trails Aldrin academically. It ranks 387th (65th percentile, 3 stars), up from 553rd the previous year, with an average proficiency around 78.7%. Armstrong's 6th grade is its strongest level—83.3% in both math and reading, beating district and state averages. Interestingly, Armstrong actually has more resources: higher per-student spending ($18,590 vs. $17,721), a lower student-teacher ratio (10.0 vs. 10.8), and a lower poverty rate (19.3% vs. 24.0% free/reduced lunch). Yet Aldrin outperforms it across nearly all metrics. Aldrin's much lower chronic absenteeism (7.8% vs. 11.4%) may help explain the difference, as can school climate, instruction, and family engagement. Both schools trend upward, making 20194 a solid elementary education option within Fairfax County Public Schools.
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