Summary:
Zip code 24556 in Goode, Virginia, is served by a single public elementary school: Otter River Elementary. Part of Bedford County Public Schools, this small school enrolls 167 students in grades PK through 5. With a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1 and per-student spending of $10,506, the school offers a relatively personalized learning environment while serving a community where about 36.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Otter River Elementary is a standout performer. It currently ranks 104th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools—placing it in the 91st percentile with a 5-star rating. The school has climbed steadily from a 3-star, 68th-percentile ranking in 2023–2024 to its current top-tier status. Academic results are consistently strong: in the 2025–2026 school year, every SOL test score exceeded both district and state averages. Math proficiency is especially high, with 3rd graders at 96%, 4th graders at 90.5%, and 5th graders at 89.7%. Reading scores range from 85.7% to 88%, and 5th grade science jumped to 89.7%—a 10-point gain from the prior year. Chronic absenteeism is also remarkably low at 7.8%, compared to 11.8% for the district and 14.8% for the state.
For families, this means their local school is delivering exceptional results despite modest spending and a moderate poverty rate. The rapid improvement in state ranking suggests real, sustained progress rather than a one-year fluke. Math and science are clear strengths, while reading, though slightly lower, remains well above average. The low chronic absenteeism likely contributes to the strong outcomes. Because there is only one school in the zip code, Otter River is the sole educational option within 24556, making its high performance especially valuable to the community. While small enrollment means year-to-year changes can be influenced by just a few students, the consistent upward trend and top-quartile results make this a school worth celebrating.
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