Best Public Schools in Zip Code 24441

Zip code 24441 contains one public school, South River Elementary, serving grades PK-5 in Grottoes, Virginia, and is part of Rockingham County Public Schools. As the only school in the area, it serves as the sole elementary option for local families, with 316 students and a student-teacher ratio of 14.9. The school has shown meaningful academic improvement in recent years, rising from the 27th percentile in Virginia’s state rankings in 2023-2024 to the 46th percentile in 2025-2026, and earning a two-star rating for the past two years.

South River Elementary’s strongest performances appear in 4th grade, where 2025-2026 SOL proficiency rates reached 91.49% in Virginia Studies, 81.13% in reading, and 75.93% in math—all exceeding district and state averages. The 4th grade Virginia Studies result is particularly notable, sitting more than 20 points above both the district and state. Fifth graders also made substantial gains, especially in science, which jumped from 56.86% to 75.61% proficiency, and reading, which rose from 54.90% to 70.00%. The main concern is 3rd grade reading, which fell from 65.31% to 51.79% proficiency, well below the district’s 59.53% and the state’s 67.61%. Fifth grade math also trails district and state levels at 63.41%.

Despite serving a student population where 65.82% qualify for free or reduced lunch, the school maintains a chronic absenteeism rate of just 10.0%—better than the district’s 11.0% and the state’s 14.8%. Across eight SOL tests, the unweighted average proficiency improved from roughly 67% in 2024-2025 to about 72% in 2025-2026, reflecting a clear upward trajectory. Families should note that because 24441 contains no middle or high schools, students leaving South River Elementary must travel to schools elsewhere in the district for secondary education. Overall, this is a school with strong 4th grade performance, improving 5th grade results, and recent statewide ranking gains, but 3rd grade reading deserves close attention as students advance.