Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 24121

Zip code 24121 in Moneta, Virginia is served by a single elementary school: Moneta Elementary, a PK-5 school enrolling 218 students within the Bedford County Public Schools district. With only one school in the area, the analysis focuses on how this school stacks up against district and statewide benchmarks. Moneta Elementary currently ranks 241st out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools, placing it in the 78th percentile with a four-star rating. The school has shown dramatic improvement over two years, jumping from the 53rd percentile in 2023-24 to the 82nd percentile in 2024-25, before settling at its current 78th percentile position.

Despite 87.16% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, Moneta Elementary outperforms the Virginia state average in nearly every tested subject. The school's standout subject is 4th-grade VA Studies, where proficiency reached 93.1% in 2025-26, far exceeding the district's 77.1% and the state's 70.52%. Reading performance is consistently strong across all grade levels, with proficiency rates between 80.77% and 84.85% in 2025-26. Third-grade math is exceptional at 96.3%, and fourth-grade math remains solid at 86.67%; however, math proficiency drops to 73.53% by 5th grade, falling below the district average and signaling a potential area for greater upper-elementary support.

Chronic absenteeism at 11.3% is slightly below the district rate (11.8%) and notably below the state's 14.8%, which is an encouraging sign for a school with high poverty levels. Fifth-grade science scores declined sharply from 95.24% to 75.76% year over year, though this volatility may stem from the small 218-student enrollment rather than a systemic issue. With a favorable 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio and per-pupil spending of $9,350, Moneta Elementary appears to use its resources effectively. While math and science consistency in the upper grades deserves monitoring, the school's positive trajectory and strong reading and social studies outcomes make it a resilient, high-performing school in the top quarter of Virginia elementary schools.