Summary:
ZIP code 23072 (Hayes, Virginia) is served by two public elementary schools—Abingdon Elementary and Achilles Elementary—both part of Gloucester County Public Schools, offering PK–5 education to about 850 students, with no middle or high schools located within the ZIP code itself.
Both schools serve high-poverty populations (roughly two-thirds of students qualify for free/reduced lunch) yet perform near or above state averages in most subjects. Achilles Elementary is the stronger school for math and reading proficiency, posting a remarkable 96.36% proficiency in 4th-grade math for 2025–2026, along with a 75% 3rd-grade reading score that far outpaces Abingdon’s 56.14%. However, Abingdon Elementary counters in other areas: it boasts better science and Virginia Studies scores, lower chronic absenteeism (11.1% vs. 12.7%), a slightly lower student–teacher ratio (13.3 vs. 13.9), and higher per-student spending ($11,558 vs. $10,650). Despite these differences, the two schools rank nearly identically in the 2025–2026 state rankings—419th and 422nd out of 1,111—suggesting the ranking formula weighs factors beyond simple test scores.
Year-over-year trends reveal divergent paths. Abingdon improved its overall proficiency slightly from 76.0% to 77.0%, while Achilles slipped from 79.4% to 78.0%, though Achilles made a dramatic jump in Virginia Studies from 61.0% to 72.7%. Chronic absenteeism at both schools is well below the district (15.3%) and state (14.8%) averages, a positive sign for student engagement. Spending does not clearly predict performance—Achilles outpaces Abingdon in core academics despite receiving $908 less per student. Families in 23072 have two capable, solid elementary options that excel in different subjects; for math and reading, Achilles leads, while Abingdon offers stronger science, social studies, attendance, and smaller class sizes.
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