Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 23606

Zip code 23606 in Newport News, Virginia, is home to three public elementary schools — Riverside Elementary, Hidenwood Elementary, and Richard T. Yates Elementary — which together serve 1,430 students in grades PK through 5 as part of Newport News City Public Schools.

All three schools serve very high-poverty populations, with free/reduced lunch rates between 97.8% and 100%, yet their outcomes differ significantly. Richard T. Yates Elementary is the clear academic leader, ranking 788th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (29th percentile) and earning a 2-star rating in recent years. It outperforms the district average in several subjects, including 3rd-grade reading (70% vs. 59.6%) and 5th-grade math (70.4% vs. 59.8%), and has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 14.4% — matching the state average. Hidenwood Elementary stands out for its resources, spending the most per student ($10,757) and having the smallest class sizes (14.8 students per teacher), and it is improving its state rank. However, it does not produce the highest test scores and has the highest chronic absenteeism at 21.2%. Riverside Elementary is the most vulnerable school, with a 0-star rating, a state rank that has fallen to the 7th percentile, average proficiency around 49.8%, and the lowest spending at $9,032 per student.

The key takeaway for parents is that resources alone do not determine success. Yates achieves the best results despite the largest class sizes (22.4) and lower spending than Hidenwood, suggesting that school climate and attendance matter greatly. Meanwhile, Riverside has declined steadily over three years and may need targeted intervention. Even the strongest school in the zip code ranks only in the bottom third statewide, and all three schools fall short of the state average proficiency of roughly 71.6%. That said, there are positive signs: Yates is competitive with state averages in several 5th-grade subjects, Hidenwood is trending upward, and Riverside showed improvements in some 2025–26 subjects. Families should weigh academic performance, attendance, and available resources carefully when choosing among these schools.