Best Public Schools in Zip Code 24017

Zip code 24017 in Roanoke, VA is served by four schools in the Roanoke City Public Schools district—three elementary schools (Westside Elementary, Fairview Elementary, and Roanoke Academy for Mathematics & Science Elementary) and one high school (William Fleming High)—serving about 3,524 students in a high-poverty area where free/reduced lunch eligibility ranges from 91.6% to 99.4%.

The clear standout is Roanoke Academy, which ranks highest in the zip code (15th percentile, 1 star) and posts the strongest elementary test scores, with about 52% average proficiency. It exceeds the state average in 5th grade math (74.55% vs. 72.39%), and its 5th grade science (61.82%) far outpaces the district (47.4%). Roanoke Academy also has the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.5:1) and highest per-student spending ($18,448). Westside Elementary is the lowest-performing elementary school (2nd percentile, 0 stars) with about 38% average proficiency, despite spending $14,177 per student—more than Fairview Elementary ($12,110), which outperforms it at about 46% average proficiency. Fairview declined sharply from a 1-star to a 0-star school in one year. William Fleming High faces the most severe challenges: a 76.1% graduation rate (state: 92.3%), a 17.7% dropout rate, and 36% chronic absenteeism. However, it shows math bright spots in 11th grade Algebra I (86.67% proficient) and 9th grade Algebra II (90.32%).

Spending alone does not predict outcomes—Westside spends more per student than Fairview but performs worse, while Roanoke Academy proves that high poverty does not prevent academic success. The most critical systemic weakness is social studies and history: proficiency is drastically below statewide averages across all schools, including just 4.76% in VA/US History at William Fleming (state: 34.52%) and 29.79% in Virginia Studies at Roanoke Academy (state: 70.52%). Chronic absenteeism is a major issue at the high school, and with no middle school in the zip code, students face a transition outside their community for grades 6–8.