Summary:
Zip code 23692 (Yorktown, Virginia) is home to three public high schools serving roughly 2,254 students in grades 9 through 12, all under the highly rated York County Public Schools district, which ranks 6th out of 131 districts in Virginia. The schools include Grafton High, York High, and York River Academy, each offering a distinct experience despite belonging to the same district.
York River Academy stands out for its elite potential but dramatic year-to-year swings: it ranked 4th in the state in 2023–24, tumbled to 301st in 2024–25, then rebounded to 42nd in 2025–26. With only 72 students and a 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio, it achieves a 100% graduation rate and zero dropouts, but its academic proficiency data is inconsistent due to small cohort sizes. By contrast, York High is the model of consistency, ranking between 54th and 79th over three years, with the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.1%) and strong reading and science scores. Grafton High is the largest school (1,235 students) and faces the most economic challenges (44.2% free/reduced lunch, 16.4% chronic absenteeism), yet still graduates 96.2% of students and posts exceptional senior-year literacy scores—over 90% proficient in reading and writing.
Overall, this ZIP code benefits from a top-tier district and generally outperforms Virginia state averages. The combined graduation rate is about 96.9%, well above the state’s 92.3%. Biology is the clearest academic weakness, especially at Grafton (51.1% proficiency vs. 68.9% statewide), while history scores are low in absolute terms but above state averages. Spending varies widely—York River Academy spends $22,922 per student versus $8,498 at Grafton—reflecting the trade-offs between small specialized academies and efficient large schools. Parents in 23692 can choose between a consistent comprehensive school, a large resilient school, or a small volatile academy, all within a district ranked in the top 5% of Virginia.
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