Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23221

The 23221 zip code area of Richmond, Virginia is home to two schools - Albert Hill Middle School and Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary School. Both schools serve high-poverty communities, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite facing significant challenges, the data reveals pockets of academic success at these institutions.

Albert Hill Middle School has consistently low statewide rankings, placing in the bottom quartile of Virginia middle schools. However, the school outperforms the Richmond City Public Schools district and the state on several key test scores, particularly in Algebra I, Geometry, and English Reading. In contrast, Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary School has been improving its statewide ranking, moving from the bottom 20% to the middle 40% of Virginia elementary schools over the past three years. The elementary school also demonstrates strong performance on Math and English Reading tests, often exceeding district and state averages.

The data also reveals significant differences in per-student spending between the two schools, with Albert Hill Middle School spending $20,460 per student compared to $13,085 per student at Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary School. Additionally, both schools face high chronic absenteeism rates of 15.7%, which likely contribute to the overall academic challenges. These insights suggest that while the schools in the 23221 zip code area face significant obstacles, there are opportunities to learn from their successes and implement targeted interventions to better support the students they serve.