Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23301

ZIP code 23301 is served by a single public school, Accawmacke Elementary, a PK–5 elementary school in Accomac with 453 students, meaning the area has no middle or high school options. Located within Accomack County Public Schools — a district ranked 69th out of 131 in Virginia — the school itself holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 24th percentile statewide, yet this overall rating masks several meaningful strengths.

Subject-level results show that the school is not uniformly low-performing. In 5th grade Reading, 73.33% of students scored proficient in 2025–2026, beating the district by 7.56 percentage points and slightly exceeding the state average. The school also posted strong results in 5th grade Science (64% proficient) and 4th grade Virginia Studies (72.46%), outperforming both district and state averages. A particularly strong cohort is visible when tracking the current 5th graders: as 4th graders they scored 83.12% in Virginia Studies, then maintained momentum with 73.33% in Reading as 5th graders. In contrast, 3rd grade is the clear weak point, with proficiency rates of 57.5% in Math and 55.0% in Reading in 2025–2026 — improved from the prior year but still far below state averages, suggesting early intervention could be a high-impact priority.

Beyond test scores, Accawmacke Elementary offers a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1 and a chronic absenteeism rate of 11.0%, which is below the state average of 14.8%, indicating good attendance. The school serves a very high-need population, with a free/reduced lunch rate reported at 103.53% — a figure likely reflecting broad community eligibility rather than a literal count. Given the school’s high-poverty context, its relative strengths in 5th grade Reading, Science, and Virginia Studies are noteworthy, and the positive cohort growth points to effective cumulative instruction. For parents, the main practical consideration is that this is an elementary-only zone, so students will need to attend schools outside ZIP code 23301 for middle and high school.