Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 22603

Zip code 22603 in the Winchester area is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK through 5, all part of Frederick County Public Schools, with a combined enrollment of 1,888 students. The four schools — Redbud Run Elementary, Gainesboro Elementary, Indian Hollow Elementary, and Apple Pie Ridge Elementary — range in size from 393 to 614 students and collectively face significant economic challenges, with an average free/reduced lunch eligibility rate of about 64%.

Indian Hollow Elementary is the clear standout. It holds the highest state ranking among the four (740 of 1,111) and posts the strongest overall SOL proficiency at roughly 66.8%, despite having the highest poverty rate (76.13%). Its 5th grade math proficiency (78.79%) exceeds both district and state averages. Apple Pie Ridge Elementary is the most improved, climbing from a rank of 923 to 858 and raising overall proficiency from about 56.9% to 62.3%, while offering the best student-teacher ratio (11.5). Redbud Run Elementary is the largest (614 students) but spends the least per student ($11,763) and scores lowest overall at roughly 55.2%. Gainesboro Elementary, despite serving the most affluent population (41.61% free/reduced lunch), ranks lowest in the zip code at 968 of 1,111.

Several patterns stand out. Poverty does not predict performance here — Indian Hollow thrives despite high poverty, while Gainesboro underperforms despite lower poverty. Science and Virginia Studies are consistent weak spots, with all schools except Indian Hollow falling well below state averages in these subjects. Math scores show a dramatic split: Gainesboro's 5th grade math drops to 41.27% from a 3rd grade rate of 65.52%, while Indian Hollow surges from 55.36% to 78.79%. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism is below district and state averages at all four schools, although the zip code as a whole remains below state proficiency norms.