Summary:
Located in Alexandria, Virginia, zip code 22305 is served by two elementary schools within Alexandria City Public Schools—Mount Vernon Elementary, enrolling 933 students in grades PK–5, and Cora Kelly School for Math Science and Technology, enrolling 337 students in grades PK–5.
Mount Vernon is the higher-ranked, larger school, placing in the 22nd percentile statewide compared to Cora Kelly's 19th percentile. Cora Kelly serves a much higher-need population, with 82.2% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch versus 41.2% at Mount Vernon, yet the two schools have nearly identical chronic absenteeism rates (10.0% and 10.4%, respectively). Cora Kelly receives significantly more resources to address these challenges, spending $20,016 per pupil compared to $12,812 at Mount Vernon, and maintaining a smaller student-teacher ratio (14.7 versus 18.1).
Interestingly, both schools posted identical math proficiency averages of 61.29% in 2025–2026, though through very different pathways. Mount Vernon is the more balanced school, with proficiency rates across all grades and subjects falling between 59% and 65%, while Cora Kelly fluctuates dramatically, from 40.91% in 3rd-grade reading to an impressive 71.74% in 5th-grade math—nearly matching the state average. Both schools have improved their state rankings in each of the last three years, and both posted dramatic one-year gains in 4th-grade Virginia Studies. For parents, Mount Vernon offers steady, consistent performance, while Cora Kelly provides a specialized STEM focus with strong late-elementary math outcomes and substantial resources, though reading gaps remain a key challenge.
Thank you for your feedback!