Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23231

Zip code 23231 is served by 7 schools in the Henrico County Public Schools district, spanning grades PK–12 with 4,227 students across 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. Every school serves a high-poverty population, with free/reduced lunch rates between 86% and 90% — a constant regardless of school performance. Notably, Anthony P. Mehfoud Elementary serves only PK–2 and has no test data. The district ranks 90th out of 131 statewide (31st percentile), below the Virginia average.

Varina High stands out as the clear positive story, improving its ranking from the 6th to the 37th percentile over three years, with SOL proficiency well above state averages in Algebra I (94.1%), Biology (100%), and 12th grade English Reading (89.1%). At the other end, John Rolfe Middle is the biggest concern — ranking at the 5th percentile with 7th grade math at just 26.7% proficient, though its 7th grade Algebra I students hit 95%. Among elementary schools, Montrose Elementary is the lowest performer at the 3rd percentile with 4th grade math at 32.6%, while Henry D. Ward Elementary and George F. Baker Elementary show 5th grade math and science at or above state averages — Baker jumped from 52.2% to 74.2% in 5th grade math year-over-year.

Several patterns stand out. Chronic absenteeism rises sharply with school level — from 12.9%–17.8% in elementary schools to 22.0% at John Rolfe Middle and 26.9% at Varina High. Early elementary reading is a red flag: 3rd grade reading proficiency is just 28.1% at Henry D. Ward, 38.6% at George F. Baker, and 40.7% at Montrose, far below the 67.6% state average. Spending and class size do not drive success — Varina Elementary spends the most ($13,365 per student) but ranks at the 7th percentile, while Henry D. Ward spends the least ($9,747) yet earns the best elementary ranking. The bottom line: this high-poverty area varies widely in outcomes, with genuine pockets of strength at Varina High and in the upper elementary grades at Ward and Baker, but serious challenges at the middle school level and in early literacy.