Summary:
ZIP code 23834 is served by a single middle school, Colonial Heights Middle, which enrolls 700 students in grades 6–8 and is part of Colonial Heights City Public Schools. The school has held a 2-star rating for the past three school years, ranking in the 31st to 35th percentile among Virginia middle schools — placing it in the lower tier of schools statewide. Nearly 98% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, and the student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7 with annual spending of $11,049 per student.
The school's strongest academic area is mathematics. Algebra I proficiency among 8th graders reached 94.8% in 2025–2026 and 97.9% the prior year, both above the state average, while 7th grade math proficiency of 61.6% outpaced the state by 10.5 points. Reading is the main weakness: proficiency trails the state at every grade level, with the 8th grade gap reaching nearly 9 points in the most recent year and nearly 14 points the year before. Eighth grade math proficiency (42.1%) also falls below the state (46.9%), though this is partially explained by advanced students taking Algebra I instead. Science and Civics & Economics scores are slightly below state averages as well.
Chronic absenteeism affects 24.4% of students, a rate roughly 65% higher than the state's 14.8%, and is likely a key factor behind the school's modest overall ranking. Despite these challenges, Colonial Heights Middle shows that strong math achievement is achievable even in a high-poverty context. For parents, the key takeaway is that this school excels in algebra and 7th grade math but needs targeted support in reading and upper-grade subjects. The school's state ranking has improved slightly from the 31st to 35th percentile over three years, though it remains a 2-star school.
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