Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23821

Zip code 23821 (Alberta, VA) is served by a single school, Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary, which spans grades PK–6 and enrolls 205 students in the Brunswick County Public Schools district. With no middle or high school in the area, this elementary school represents the entire K-12 educational landscape for the community, meaning students must leave the zip code for secondary education.

As the only school, Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary is the standout by default, and it shows a mixed picture. Its strongest area is reading: 5th grade reading proficiency reached 72.5% in 2025-26, matching the state average and exceeding the district, while 4th grade reading (70.59%) stayed close to state levels. The school also outperformed its district in 4th grade VA Studies, though it remained below the state. However, math is a serious concern, especially in upper grades — 6th grade math proficiency (45.16%) is more than 18 points below the state and 23 points below the district, and 5th grade math sits at just 47.5%. Science is also weak, with 5th grade proficiency at 40%, a sharp drop of 14 points from the prior year. These academic struggles are reflected in the school’s statewide ranking, which has fallen from the 39th percentile in 2023-24 to the 17th percentile in 2025-26.

All 205 students at Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, making it a 100% economically disadvantaged school, yet its chronic absenteeism rate of 12.8% is better than the state average of 14.8%. Per-student spending of $10,272 is relatively robust, but outcomes in math and science remain well below state averages, suggesting that resources alone haven’t closed the achievement gap. Reading remains a relative strength, averaging roughly 65.6% across tested grades, and the school has proven it can reach state-level performance in certain assessments. The declining ranking and sharp drops in 3rd grade math and 5th grade science are concerning, but targeted support in these areas, paired with the school’s existing literacy gains, could help reverse the trend.