Summary:
In zip code 23294, there are two public elementary schools: Skipwith Elementary and R.C. Longan Elementary, both serving grades PK–5 in the Richmond, VA area as part of Henrico County Public Schools, a district that holds a 2-star rating. Both schools serve very high-poverty populations, with nearly 9 in 10 students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and both carry 1-star ratings, placing them in the lower tier of Virginia elementary schools.
R.C. Longan is the clear standout in this area. It outperforms Skipwith in most recent SOL subjects, improved in all 7 subject/grade combinations year-over-year, and saw its district percentile rise from 19th to 27th. Longan's 5th grade math proficiency jumped to 78.38%, above both district and state averages, and its 3rd grade reading improved dramatically to 63.79%, nearly matching the state average. Longan also has much lower chronic absenteeism (11.0% vs. Skipwith's 17.5%) and spends more per student: $11,376 vs. $9,034. Skipwith, meanwhile, slipped to the 12th percentile and saw a nearly 19-point drop in 5th grade science proficiency, falling to 40.91%, far below district and state averages. The one bright spot for Skipwith is 3rd grade math, which improved by nearly 16 points to 60.87%, but this growth does not carry into upper grades.
For parents, the key takeaway is that despite nearly identical poverty levels, Longan is achieving better outcomes with higher funding, better attendance, and an upward trajectory. However, both schools remain below state averages in nearly every category, with only Longan's 5th grade math exceeding the state average. Chronic absenteeism and resource allocation are important factors to watch, as Longan's success suggests meaningful improvement is achievable within this district, while Skipwith's challenges highlight the need for targeted support.
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