Schools in Zip Code 23086

Zip code 23086 in rural King William, Virginia is served by four schools within King William County Public Schools, a district ranked 109 out of 131 in Virginia: Cool Spring Primary (PK–2), Acquinton Elementary (3–5), Hamilton Holmes Middle (6–8), and King William High (9–12). Because elementary education is split across two buildings, standardized test data concentrate at the upper elementary, middle, and high school levels. Between roughly 41% and 47% of students across all four schools qualify for free or reduced lunch, offering important economic context for the area.

Hamilton Holmes Middle is the strongest all-around school, with very low chronic absenteeism (6.6%), perfect 100% Algebra I proficiency, and strong Earth Science (94.7%) and Civics & Economics (85.3%) scores that beat state averages. King William High stands out for its 93.7% graduation rate, a 4.5% dropout rate below the state's 5.0%, and exceptional advanced math and writing results. Cool Spring Primary has no test scores since it serves PK–2, but it posts the highest per-student spending ($9,655) and keeps chronic absenteeism at 11.3%, below state levels. Acquinton Elementary shows solid 3rd-grade math (75–78% proficiency) that unfortunately erodes by 5th grade.

The most pressing concern is on-level mathematics: 5th grade math at Acquinton Elementary drops to 54.1% versus 72.4% statewide, and 6th grade math at Hamilton Holmes Middle sits at 42.5% versus 63.2% statewide. Meanwhile, students in accelerated math perform exceptionally well, suggesting the district's advanced pathways are a key strength. Chronic absenteeism rises sharply from 6.6% at the middle school to 16.6% at King William High, above the state's 14.8%. Elementary schools spend more per student but have larger class sizes, while secondary schools spend less but have smaller student-teacher ratios. For parents, the district's low overall ranking does not tell the full story: early math gains fade for many students, but advanced programs and high school graduation outcomes are genuine bright spots.