Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23418

Zip code 23418 in Onley, Virginia is home to two schools in Accomack County Public Schools: Nandua High (grades 9-12) and Nandua Middle (grades 6-8), serving about 1,075 students. Both schools enroll student populations where roughly 98% qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet chronic absenteeism is remarkably low — just 4.3% at the high school and 9.3% at the middle school, well below state and district averages. This suggests strong student engagement despite significant economic hardship. Spending per student is also relatively favorable, with Nandua Middle spending about $10,552 per student compared to $9,291 at Nandua High, and both schools maintain student-teacher ratios near 12 to 1.

Academically, Nandua Middle is the stronger school overall, ranked 148th out of 416 Virginia middle schools in 2025-2026 (64th percentile) with a 3-star rating. Its math performance is exceptional: 8th graders taking Algebra I posted 100% proficiency in 2024-2025, and 8th grade math proficiency in 2025-2026 was nearly 64%, outpacing the state by 17 points. Reading proficiency at Nandua Middle exceeded state averages in all three grade levels. Nandua High also shows clear strengths in STEM, with 100% proficiency in 9th-grade Geometry, 95% in Algebra I, and Biology scores above 84%, all far exceeding state averages. However, social studies is a major weakness at the high school, with World History I proficiency at just 13.6% versus 48.9% statewide, and VA/US History at 24.3% versus 35.2%.

Both schools are improving, with Nandua High moving from the 46th to 57th percentile and Nandua Middle from the 57th to 64th percentile since 2023-2024. The most serious concern is Nandua High's graduation and dropout rates: the dropout rate is 9.1%, nearly double the district's 5.7%, and the graduation rate of 87.5% trails the state's 92.3%. This disconnect — strong math and science scores and low absenteeism alongside a high dropout rate — suggests that while many students excel, a meaningful number still leave before graduating. For parents, Nandua Middle offers a consistently strong academic foundation, while Nandua High provides standout STEM opportunities but carries a clear warning about graduation outcomes. Overall, these schools outperform expectations for their poverty levels, especially in math and attendance.