Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23124

Zip code 23124 contains three public schools serving about 2,503 students in grades PK–12, all part of New Kent County Public Schools, a district ranked 9th out of 131 in Virginia with a 5-star rating. The schools are New Kent High (grades 9–12; 1,073 students; ranked 26th of 331 high schools), New Kent Middle (grades 6–8; 829 students; ranked 106th of 416 middle schools), and New Kent Elementary (grades PK–5; 601 students; ranked 344th of 1,111 elementary schools).

New Kent High is the clear standout, placing in the top 8% of Virginia high schools with 5 stars. Its graduation rate of 94.6% exceeds the state average, and its SOL scores are excellent: 93.0% in 11th-grade Writing, 95.9% in English Reading, 92.1% in Algebra I, and 90.9% in Biology. The school has jumped from the 82nd to the 92nd percentile in just two years. New Kent Middle shines in mathematics, with 98.8% of 8th graders proficient in Algebra I and strong 8th-grade math results (74.4% vs. 46.9% statewide). New Kent Elementary, though more modestly ranked, has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the zip code at 6.3% — less than half the state rate of 14.8% — along with the smallest student-teacher ratio at 12.0 and the highest per-student spending at $9,449.

All three schools beat state averages in most subjects, and a strong math pipeline connects middle school Algebra I success to the high school's 92.1% proficiency in 9th-grade Algebra I. Weak spots include New Kent High's 11th-grade VA/US History proficiency (19.1% vs. 35.2% statewide) and 9th-grade Biology (62.5%), despite excellent 10th-grade results. Chronic absenteeism rises by grade level, from 6.3% at the elementary school to 12.6% at the middle school and 13.3% at the high school. The elementary school serves the highest share of economically disadvantaged students (33.4% free/reduced lunch) while also receiving the most resources, suggesting a deliberate focus on early intervention. Overall, zip code 23124 offers an elite high school, a top-quartile middle school, and a solid elementary school, making it a strong choice for families.