Schools in Zip Code 24015

Zip code 24015 in Roanoke, VA contains seven schools within the Roanoke City Public Schools district, serving 4,331 students across four elementary schools (Grandin Court Elementary, Fishburn Park Elementary, Wasena Elementary, Virginia Heights Elementary), two middle schools (Woodrow Wilson Middle, James Madison Middle), and one high school (Patrick Henry High). All schools serve highly economically disadvantaged populations, with free/reduced lunch rates at or near 100%. Despite this shared challenge, performance varies dramatically, making the elementary schools the clear bright spot while secondary schools struggle.

Grandin Court Elementary stands out as the highest-ranked school, earning a 4-star rating in the 77th percentile of Virginia elementary schools. Despite 99.4% economic disadvantage, its 5th graders post proficiency rates well above state averages in math (90%), reading (87.8%), and science (82%). Wasena Elementary has improved sharply, climbing from the 38th to 72nd percentile to become a 4-star school with 100% math proficiency. Both outperform peers that spend more: Virginia Heights Elementary spends $17,055 per student yet ranks in the 29th percentile, while Fishburn Park Elementary spends $15,775 and sits at the 32nd percentile. Grandin Court and Wasena achieve their results with roughly $12,200 per student, showing that school practices and low absenteeism matter more than raw spending.

The middle and high schools present a more concerning picture. James Madison Middle and Woodrow Wilson Middle rank in the bottom 15 percent of Virginia, and Patrick Henry High sits in the 11th percentile. These secondary schools run a "two-track" system: advanced students excel (James Madison's 8th grade geometry hits 95.7%), while on-grade-level math proficiency is in the single digits or teens. Chronic absenteeism is a key signal — the best elementary schools have rates under 10%, while secondary schools range from 21.1% to 31.7%. Patrick Henry shows a severe 9th and 10th grade slump, with earth science at 15.6% and writing at 18.5%, though 11th grade results improve markedly. The transition from elementary to middle school appears to be the critical point of failure in zip code 24015.