Summary:
Zip code 24090 covers the Fincastle, Virginia area and contains two public schools—Central Academy Middle and Breckinridge Elementary—serving grades PK–8 within the highly ranked Botetourt County Public Schools district, which ranks 7th out of 131 Virginia districts with a 5-star rating, though the zip code has no high school. Both schools belong to the same small district, but they offer very different academic profiles: Central Academy Middle is elite, while Breckinridge Elementary is solid but trending downward.
Central Academy Middle is the clear standout, ranking 27th of 416 Virginia middle schools (94th percentile, 5 stars) in 2025–2026, with a stellar two-year record of 100% proficiency in Algebra I and Geometry. Its math scores are extraordinary: 7th grade math proficiency is 97.4% versus 51.1% statewide, and even the lowest math score (8th grade, 84.8%) remains nearly 38 points above the state average. By contrast, Breckinridge Elementary ranks 377th of 1,111 elementary schools (66th percentile, 3 stars), slipping from 4 stars in prior years and posting declines across every tested subject. Breckinridge still beats state averages in science and social studies, but trails its own district in most math and reading tests. Notably, Central Academy's 8th grade reading (78.8%), science (79.8%), and civics (82.7%) all fall below district averages, showing its weakness lies outside math.
Both schools share one strength: attendance. Chronic absenteeism is 5.3% at Breckinridge and 8.6% at Central Academy, well below the district (9.3%) and state (14.8%) averages. Spending does not explain performance—Breckinridge actually spends more per student ($13,991) and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (11.9) than Central Academy ($12,653, 12.4). Since the zip code has no high school, students in Fincastle leave 24090 for high school within Botetourt County, so families should consider the full K–12 pathway when evaluating this area.
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