Summary:
ZIP code 22624 (Clear Brook, VA) is served by a single public school: Stonewall Elementary, a PK–5 school with 391 students in Frederick County Public Schools. With no other schools in this ZIP code, Stonewall is the sole option for local elementary students, who would then travel outside the area for middle and high school. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Virginia elementary schools, though it improved from the 18th percentile in 2024–25 to the 25th percentile in 2025–26.
Stonewall’s academic profile is mixed but shows clear bright spots. Its standout result is Virginia Studies, where 5th graders hit 82.14% proficiency in 2025–26 — well above both the district (65.82%) and state (74.36%). Early grades are also a relative strength, with 3rd-grade math at 75.47% and reading at 59.62% in 2024–25, both above district averages. The school also maintains a low chronic absenteeism rate of 10.6%, far better than the district (16.0%) and state (14.8%), despite serving a high-poverty population where 77.24% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The student-teacher ratio of 13.9:1 and per-student spending of $12,421 further reflect a school with solid resources.
The most concerning pattern is a steep decline in proficiency as students advance. In 2025–26, math dropped from 71.64% in 3rd grade to 60.00% in 5th grade, while reading fell more dramatically from 64.71% to 47.69% — a 17-point slide that left 5th graders nearly 25 points below the state average. Science is also weak, with only 44.62% of 5th graders proficient. These upper-elementary struggles mirror 2024–25 results, suggesting a persistent challenge rather than a one-year issue. Stonewall’s early elementary instruction appears effective, but momentum fades by 5th grade, particularly in reading and science. Targeted interventions in upper-grade literacy and science, building on the success seen in Virginia Studies and 3rd-grade classes, could help reverse this downward trend.
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