Summary:
Zip code 22206 in Arlington, Virginia is served by one public high school — Wakefield High — a large comprehensive school enrolling 2,646 students in grades 9–12, with just under half of its students (48%) qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Wakefield High is the only high school in this zip code, so there is no local school-to-school comparison; instead, its performance is measured against its district, Arlington County Public Schools, and the state of Virginia. The district ranks in the 80th percentile statewide, but Wakefield itself ranks 170th out of 331 Virginia high schools (49th percentile) for 2025–2026, earning 2 out of 5 stars. The most encouraging trend is momentum: Wakefield has climbed from 219th (33rd percentile) in 2023–2024 to its current 170th place, and its average SOL proficiency across reported tests rose from about 68.5% to 74.0% — now nearly matching the state average of 73.2%. Strong spots include 9th-grade Geometry (96% proficient vs. 86% statewide), 11th-grade Writing (88% vs. 80%), and upper-grade Earth Science, which beat state averages by 15–18 points.
However, several red flags require attention. Chronic absenteeism sits at 22.5%, nearly double the district's 12.1% and well above the state's 14.8%, and the dropout rate of 7.0% exceeds both district (5.8%) and state (5.0%) figures. Graduation is 91.0%, slightly below the state's 92.3%. Academically, the biggest concern is 12th-grade English Reading at just 33.3% proficiency versus 70.2% statewide — a dramatic gap even as 11th-grade reading is near average. Biology is a persistent weakness (54.7% in 10th grade vs. 68.9% statewide in 2025–2026), and 10th-grade Algebra I fluctuated sharply from 56% to 75% across two years. The pattern suggests interventions should target specific grades and subjects — particularly senior reading, Biology, and attendance — rather than applying schoolwide fixes. If Wakefield's upward trajectory continues, it could soon become a competitive choice within Arlington.
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