Best Public Schools in Zip Code 22812

ZIP code 22812 in Bridgewater, Virginia, is served by exactly two public schools—Turner Ashby High (grades 9–12) and John W. Wayland Elementary (grades PK–5)—both part of Rockingham County Public Schools, with no middle school in the immediate area. Turner Ashby High is the larger school with 998 students, while John W. Wayland Elementary serves 526 students.

The two schools have very different strengths. Turner Ashby High is a math powerhouse, ranking in the 77th percentile of Virginia high schools with perfect 100% proficiency in Algebra I for both 9th and 11th graders, and 98.3% in Geometry—far above state averages. It also boasts a 94.6% graduation rate and a 3.4% dropout rate, better than state figures. However, science is its weak spot: 11th-grade Biology proficiency is just 47.6%, well below the state’s 63.5%, and chronic absenteeism at 16.0% exceeds the state average. In contrast, John W. Wayland Elementary has excellent attendance with only 6.3% chronic absenteeism, less than half the state rate, and has improved dramatically from the 33rd to the 51st percentile in state rankings over two years. It outperforms district and state averages in 5th-grade math (85.3%), 5th-grade science (80.3%), and 3rd-grade reading (76.5%), despite having a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (42.4% free/reduced lunch) than the high school (38.4%).

Spending also differs notably: the elementary school receives $10,163 per student versus $8,372 at the high school, even though student-teacher ratios are nearly identical. Both schools are on upward trajectories—Turner Ashby improved from the 67th to 77th percentile, and Wayland from 33rd to 51st—suggesting continued progress. The absence of a middle school means students in grades 6–8 must leave the ZIP code, which may contribute to the transition gaps seen in attendance and performance. Overall, ZIP 22812 offers a high school excelling in math and graduation but struggling with science, and an elementary school with strong early academics and stellar attendance, making the area one to watch.