Summary:
Zip code 22314 in Alexandria, Virginia is served by two elementary schools within Alexandria City Public Schools: Jefferson-Houston PK-8 School, a PK-8 school with 506 students, and Lyles-Crouch Elementary, a PK-5 school with 378 students. Despite sharing the same district and zip code, these two schools offer dramatically different educational experiences, making school choice especially important for families in this area.
Lyles-Crouch Elementary is the clear academic standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 81st percentile statewide for 2025-26. The school has been on a steady upward trajectory, improving from the 68th to the 81st percentile over three years. Lyles-Crouch exceeds both district and state proficiency rates in every reported subject and grade level, with 91% of 4th graders proficient in reading and 90% proficient in 5th grade science. Only about 22% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch, and the school maintains a low 9.1% chronic absenteeism rate and a 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio.
By contrast, Jefferson-Houston PK-8 School serves a much higher-need population, with nearly 85% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. It receives significantly more funding ($17,844 per student vs. $12,854 at Lyles-Crouch) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (10.4 vs. 15.7), yet proficiency rates are far lower — 5th grade math sits at 41% and 5th grade science at 43%, compared to state averages around 70%. The school remains in the bottom tier of Virginia rankings, though there are bright spots, including strong 8th grade Algebra I results. Chronic absenteeism at Jefferson-Houston (12.1%) is actually below the district average, so attendance is not the issue; rather, the combination of high poverty and low proficiency highlights the challenges facing this school. Together, these two schools illustrate a stark achievement divide within the same zip code.
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