Schools in Zip Code 23832

Zip code 23832 in Chesterfield, Virginia is home to 6 schools within Chesterfield County Public Schools, serving roughly 5,576 students across one traditional high school, four elementary schools, and one virtual K-8 school. The standout is Winterpock Elementary, which ranks in the 90th percentile statewide with 5 stars, posting proficiency rates roughly 20 points above district averages in 3rd grade math (94.4%) and reading (90.2%), while spending the least per student ($6,880) and having the lowest chronic absenteeism (8.8%). At the other end of the spectrum, J.A. Chalkley Elementary mirrors Winterpock's enrollment size but struggles across every subject, with 3rd grade reading at just 34.9% and the highest chronic absenteeism in the zip code at 20.9%.

The most encouraging story is O.B. Gates Elementary, which improved its state ranking from 597th to 335th over three years and posts above-district proficiency in 4th grade math (87.7%) and reading (82.1%), despite a 76.9% free/reduced lunch rate. By contrast, Lloyd C. Bird High, the only traditional high school in the area, earns just 1 star with a 17th-percentile state ranking, an 89% graduation rate, and an 8.1% dropout rate — both worse than state averages. Chesterfield Virtual School spends the most per student ($12,303) yet shows the weakest math proficiency in the zip code, particularly in middle school grades where 7th grade math proficiency sits at just 19.7%.

Across the area, chronic absenteeism tracks performance closely: every school at or above 20% absenteeism is underperforming relative to state benchmarks, while Winterpock and O.B. Gates keep absenteeism below 14.5%. Interestingly, lower student-teacher ratios do not predict success — Winterpock has the highest ratio (16.8) and the best results, while Chalkley and the virtual school have the lowest ratios but weak outcomes. The strongest takeaway for parents is that while poverty correlates with achievement in this zip code, it is not determinative: O.B. Gates proves that high-poverty schools can outperform district averages, while the gap between Winterpock and its neighbor schools highlights how much school-level practices and attendance matter.