Excellent
#118 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 6% in state
Cardinal Elementary
Elementary School · Arlington County Public Schools · Arlington, VA
An Arlington County Public Schools elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1644 N. McKinley Road, Arlington, VA 22205
- Math 94% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 92% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cardinal Elementary score 92% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 88%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 93% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 91% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 92% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
5.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Cardinal Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Washington DC map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 75Very Walkable
- Transit 49Some Transit
- Bike 84Very Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$192,951
Median home value
$1,070,500
Median rent
$1,843/mo
College educated
79.7%
Homeownership
76.9%
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 22205; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington TraditionalEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 663 | Compare → |
| Rivendell SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.2private | K–8 | 0.6 mi | 141 | Compare → |
| St Ann Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 232 | Compare → |
| Ashlawn ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 529 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Arlington County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 42
- Rank in district
- #11 of 36
- District spending per student
- $23,424NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cardinal Elementary is listed in Arlington County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cardinal Elementary
Cardinal Elementary is a public elementary school in Arlington, VA, part of Arlington County Public Schools, serving approximately 714 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #118 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cardinal Elementary
What grades does Cardinal Elementary serve?
Cardinal Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Cardinal Elementary?
Cardinal Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 714 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Elementary is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cardinal Elementary rank in VA?
Cardinal Elementary ranks #118 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Cardinal Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Cardinal Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Cardinal Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cardinal Elementary has 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cardinal Elementary a charter school?
No, Cardinal Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cardinal Elementary a Title I school?
No, Cardinal Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cardinal Elementary?
5.9% of students at Cardinal Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 714
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 45
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Arlington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 2.2%
- Phone
- (703) 228-5280
- Area population (ZIP 22205)
- 17,566
- Area average commute
- 27 min
- Area median age
- 42.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 22205; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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