Summary:
Zip code 22843, covering the Mount Solon area of Virginia, contains just 1 school: North River Elementary, an elementary school that serves grades PK through 5 and is part of Augusta County Public Schools. This small school enrolls 222 students with a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8 to 1, and it serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population — 88.29% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school still achieves several academic results at or above state averages.
North River Elementary stands out most notably for its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 7.8%, roughly half the district rate of 14.9% and well below Virginia's state average of 14.8%. Academic strengths are also clear: 78.26% of 3rd graders scored proficient in mathematics in 2025-2026, exceeding both the district (75.14%) and state (74.04%), and 76% of 5th graders scored proficient in English reading, outpacing the district (63.47%) and state (72.42%). These results are impressive for a school with such a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
The school does face challenges, though. Math proficiency declines as students progress through the grades, falling from 78.26% in 3rd grade to 61.22% in 4th grade and 56.00% in 5th grade — the latter more than 16 points below the state average. Fourth-grade reading also trails the state by over 8 points, and 4th-grade VA Studies scores dropped sharply from 82.61% to 61.22% year over year. With per-student spending of $10,881, North River Elementary has improved its state ranking from the 21st percentile (1 star) in 2023-2024 to the 33rd percentile (2 stars) in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, showing a positive upward trajectory as the sole educational institution in zip code 22843.
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