Best Public Schools in Zip Code 22546

Zip code 22546 in Ruther Glen, VA is served by two public elementary schools in Caroline County Public Schools — Lewis and Clark Elementary and Madison Elementary. Both schools serve grades PK through 5, and because there are no middle or high schools in the zip code, this analysis focuses entirely on elementary education.

Overall, Lewis and Clark is the stronger school. It ranks in the 47th percentile statewide (593 out of 1,111) with a 2-star rating, while Madison ranks in the 38th percentile (688 out of 1,111) with 2 stars. Lewis and Clark has higher reading scores at every grade level, better 5th-grade science scores, and a lower chronic absenteeism rate (11.1% vs. 14.8%). It also earns a higher overall proficiency average (72.5% vs. 70.1%). However, Madison has notable advantages in resources: it spends $11,000 per pupil compared to $8,006 at Lewis and Clark, and has a much lower student-teacher ratio (13.4 vs. 17.7). Despite these advantages, Madison has remained a 2-star school for three consecutive years, while Lewis and Clark earned 3 stars in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 before slipping this year. Both schools serve primarily low-income families, with roughly 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

The most impressive results are in 5th-grade math and science, where both schools beat the Virginia state average. Madison posts the area’s highest single subject score at 86.27% proficiency in 5th-grade math, and Lewis and Clark reaches 81.29%. Science proficiency is also strong: 80.71% at Lewis and Clark and 74.51% at Madison, versus the state average of 68.75%. The biggest concern is early reading. Madison’s 3rd-grade reading proficiency crashed from 75.38% to 53.52% — a 21.9-point drop that puts it 14 points below the state average. Lewis and Clark improved in 3rd-grade reading but still hovers near the state average. Chronic absenteeism at both schools is well below the district’s 21.9% rate, which is a positive sign. While Lewis and Clark is the better overall choice today, its three-year ranking decline is worth watching. For parents, the key takeaway is that both schools excel in upper-elementary math and science, but early literacy is the area most in need of attention.