Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 22206

Zip code 22206 in Arlington, VA is home to three PK-5 elementary schools within Arlington County Public Schools: Abingdon Elementary, Claremont Immersion, and Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary, serving a combined 1,780 students in a district rated 4 stars and ranked 26th out of 131 Virginia districts. Despite sharing the same high-performing district, the three schools vary dramatically in outcomes, with state rankings ranging from 259th to 949th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools.

Claremont Immersion is the clear standout — it ranks in the 77th percentile statewide, earns 4 stars, and exceeds district averages in every tested subject, including a remarkable 94.7% proficiency in Virginia Studies. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.7%), the lowest poverty rate (37.8% free/reduced lunch), and the lowest per-student spending ($13,378). In contrast, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary ranks in the 15th percentile with 1 star, spends the most ($22,001 per student), has the smallest classes (10:1), yet posts the lowest scores — just 56.9% overall proficiency — and the highest chronic absenteeism at 20.1%, nearly double the district rate. Abingdon Elementary sits in between but closer to Drew: 19th percentile, 1 star, and below district averages in every subject, with a particularly weak 46.8% in Virginia Studies.

The gaps within this single zip code are stark. Drew's 5th-grade science proficiency is just 45.3%, a 30.5-point gap below the district, and reading remains a persistent weakness across both Abingdon and Drew. Trends also diverge: Claremont improved by 6.6 points year over year, while Drew slipped slightly. Poverty and attendance clearly correlate with results — the two higher-poverty schools struggle much more — but Drew's extra spending and smaller classes have not translated into better outcomes. The key takeaway is that school-by-school data matters enormously, even within a well-regarded district, and families in 22206 should look closely at individual school results rather than relying on district reputation alone.