Best Public Schools in Zip Code 22443

Zip code 22443 in Colonial Beach, Virginia, contains 3 schools serving a combined grade span from Pre-K through 12th grade, with no standalone middle school and a unique configuration where elementary schools extend into middle grades and high school starts at 8th grade. The two districts represented are Westmoreland County Public Schools and Colonial Beach Public Schools.

For parents, the standout overall performer is Washington District Elementary, which ranks in the 59th percentile statewide (458 of 1,111) and far outpaces its district. Its 3rd grade math proficiency is exceptional at 94.83% versus 74.04% statewide, and its 3rd grade reading also beats the district average. Meanwhile, Colonial Beach Elementary shows an impressive upward trajectory: only 57.89% of 3rd graders are proficient in math, but by 7th grade that figure jumps to 82.5%, 31 points above the state average. However, early-grade reading remains a challenge at Colonial Beach Elementary, with just 55.26% of 3rd graders proficient. Colonial Beach High posts a perfect 100% on-time graduation rate and 0% dropout rate, with strong geometry (100% proficient) and Algebra I results, but its 11th grade reading proficiency lags at 77.14% versus 88.13% statewide.

All three schools serve predominantly low-income families (free/reduced lunch rates from 90% to over 100%), yet they achieve notable results in specific subjects and grades. The grade configuration is unusual: Colonial Beach Elementary runs PK–7, and Colonial Beach High starts at 8th grade, meaning students transition to high school a year earlier than typical. Spending varies dramatically, from $5,715 per student at Colonial Beach Elementary to $20,321 at Colonial Beach High, but this does not clearly predict outcomes. At the district level, Colonial Beach Public Schools ranks in the 54th percentile while Westmoreland County ranks in the 32nd, yet Washington District Elementary in the weaker-ranked district is the highest-performing school in the area. Overall, this small zip code shows that strong instruction in upper grades and math can coexist with early literacy struggles, making school and grade-level data essential for parents to review carefully.