Schools in Zip Code 23838

Zip code 23838 contains exactly one school: Matoaca High, a large public high school serving grades 9–12 in Chesterfield County Public Schools, with 1,624 students, a 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio, and 74.2% of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch. The school's state ranking has declined from 251st in 2024–2025 to 276th in 2025–2026 out of roughly 330 Virginia high schools, placing it in the bottom quarter statewide.

Despite the low overall ranking, Matoaca High posts a 93.3% graduation rate, above both the district (89.2%) and the state (92.3%), and its seniors perform well on several SOL tests, including 100% proficiency in Algebra I, 90.3% in Biology, and 84.6% in English Reading. Reading proficiency is a genuine bright spot, with 10th and 12th graders outpacing the state average. However, the school struggles severely in math and social studies: 10th-grade Geometry proficiency is just 16.3% versus 34.1% statewide, Algebra II proficiency hovers around 18% for 10th and 11th graders, and VA/US History proficiency sits at 25% in 10th grade. Writing also lags, with 11th-grade writing at 57.9% versus 79.9% statewide.

The data shows a striking math divide at Matoaca High: 9th graders taking Algebra II score 100% proficient, while students taking the same course in 10th and 11th grade score only about 18%, suggesting advanced students excel while typical and below-grade-level students struggle with on-time math mastery. Year-over-year results are highly volatile—World History I jumped from 54.5% to 82.1% proficiency, while Geography fell from 71.1% to 48.2%. With a 17.0% chronic absenteeism rate above the state's 14.8% and per-student spending of $8,251, the school faces significant challenges, but targeted math intervention and social studies support, combined with better attendance, appear to be the clearest paths to improvement.