Summary:
Zip code 22026 (Dumfries, VA) is served by Prince William County Public Schools, which operates 7 schools here: 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, enrolling approximately 7,111 students. This is a high-poverty area, with roughly 70% of students across all schools eligible for free/reduced-price lunch.
The top-performing elementary school is Covington-Harper Elementary, ranking in the 64th percentile with strong SOL scores in math and reading, despite having the lowest per-student spending and the highest student-teacher ratio. Potomac High is the biggest improver, jumping from the 32nd to 55th percentile, with a 94.6% graduation rate and exceptional Algebra I and reading gains. Among middle schools, Potomac Shores Middle clearly outperforms Potomac Middle in nearly every subject, including 100% Algebra I proficiency for 8th graders.
However, Dumfries Elementary is the lowest-ranked school, falling to the 18th percentile despite spending the most per student, while Potomac Middle has remained stuck in the low 20th percentile for three years. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at Potomac High at 22.1%, and middle schools show a wide gap between advanced and on-grade-level math performance. Overall, these schools demonstrate that high poverty does not prevent success, as seen at Covington-Harper and Potomac High, but resource allocation and attendance remain key challenges for the area.
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