Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 23821

ZIP code 23821 is home to one elementary school, Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary in Alberta, VA, serving 205 students in grades PK through 6 within Brunswick County Public Schools. This school serves a 100% economically disadvantaged student population, with every student qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Despite this high level of economic need, the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 12.8% is below the state average of 14.8%, indicating that regular attendance is not a barrier to learning here. The school maintains a 16:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $10,272.

Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary has experienced a sharp decline in its statewide ranking, falling from the 39th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 17th percentile in 2025–2026, with its accountability rating dropping from 2 stars to 1 star. Overall proficiency across all subjects and grades is approximately 57%, compared to 64% for the district and 71% for the state. Math is a significant concern, as proficiency lags the state at every grade level. The largest gap appears in 5th grade math, where 47.5% of students are proficient versus 72.4% statewide, a nearly 25-point deficit. Science is the weakest subject, with only 40% of 5th graders proficient compared to 68.8% statewide, a 28.8-point gap that also represents a 14.2-point drop from the previous year.

Reading is the school's clear strength. Fifth grade reading proficiency reached 72.5%, essentially tied with the state average of 72.4% and well above the district's 63.4%, while 4th grade reading (70.6%) nearly matches district and state averages despite the school's high poverty rate. Year-over-year results are mixed: 3rd grade math fell 12.5 points and 5th grade science dropped 14.2 points, while 3rd grade reading improved by 4.6 points and 4th grade math rose 2.5 points. For families considering this area, Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary demonstrates that strong literacy instruction is possible even in a high-poverty setting, but the school will need targeted support to address its persistent math and science challenges.