Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 23063

There is one middle school in zip code 23063, Goochland Middle, serving grades 6–8 in the town of Goochland, Virginia, as part of Goochland County Public Schools. This school of 616 students has a favorable 12:1 student-teacher ratio, a moderate free/reduced lunch rate of about 30%, and chronic absenteeism of 10%—well below the state average of 14.8%. Because this is the only middle school in the zip code, it anchors the entire local middle school picture, and its performance shapes the district's reputation.

Goochland Middle is a school of striking contrasts. In reading, it is a clear standout: every grade level (6th, 7th, and 8th) exceeds the Virginia state average, with proficiency rates above 81% in 2025–2026 and improvement over the previous year. The school is also exceptional in advanced mathematics, posting perfect 100% proficiency in both 8th-grade Geometry and 7th-grade Algebra I. However, when it comes to on-grade-level math, the story flips dramatically. In 2025–2026, only 43% of 7th graders and 27% of 8th graders were proficient in grade-level math, compared to state averages above 46%. This suggests that the strongest math students are being accelerated into advanced courses while many others struggle. The good news is that 7th-grade math proficiency jumped by nearly 21 percentage points over the prior year, indicating recent interventions may be working. Earth Science is another concern, with 8th-grade proficiency at about 75% versus the state's 91%.

Despite these challenges, the school has been stable, ranking in the middle of Virginia middle schools (51st percentile in 2025–2026) and earning a 3-star rating. Meanwhile, the district itself ranks 28th out of 131 Virginia districts (79th percentile, 4 stars), reflecting strong performance elsewhere in the county. For parents, the bottom line is that Goochland Middle offers excellent reading instruction, strong advanced math opportunities, and solid attendance, but families should be aware that on-grade-level math in 7th and 8th grade is an area needing attention. The significant year-over-year improvements in those math scores are encouraging and suggest the school is moving in the right direction.