Needs Improvement
#1680 of 1,851 schools in VA
Coates Elementary
Elementary School · Fairfax County Public Schools · Herndon, VA
A Fairfax County Public Schools elementary school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2480 River Birch Rd., Herndon, VA 20171
- Math 64% vs VA 70% (2025)
- Reading 51% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 17:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Coates Elementary score 55% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 74%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 16 points since 2019, to 57% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 65% (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 36 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
61%
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 Coates 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 23Car-Dependent
- Transit 37Some Transit
- Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,035/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Herndon), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$166,154
Median home value
$770,200
Median rent
$2,276/mo
College educated
73.8%
Homeownership
56.2%
Poverty rate
3.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20171; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berthold Academy for the Gifted and TalentedPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 1–12 | 0.7 mi | 27 | Compare → |
| Guidepost Montessori at HerndonPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.8 mi | 11 | Compare → |
| Hutchison ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | PK–6 | 0.9 mi | 1,015 | Compare → |
| Mcnair ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–2 | 0.9 mi | 512 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Fairfax County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 223
- Rank in district
- #183 of 199
- District spending per student
- $18,975NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Coates Elementary is listed in Fairfax County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Coates Elementary
Coates Elementary is a public elementary school in Herndon, VA, part of Fairfax County Public Schools, serving approximately 951 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,680 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Coates Elementary
What grades does Coates Elementary serve?
Coates Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Coates Elementary?
Coates Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 951 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Coates Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Coates Elementary is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Coates Elementary rank in VA?
Coates Elementary ranks #1,680 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Coates Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Coates Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 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 Coates Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Coates Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Coates Elementary a charter school?
No, Coates Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Coates Elementary a Title I school?
No, Coates Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Coates Elementary?
61.0% of students at Coates 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 – 6th
- Enrollment
- 951
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 56
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Fairfax County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.8%
- Phone
- (703) 713-3000
- Area population (ZIP 20171)
- 50,796
- Area average commute
- 27 min
- Area median age
- 35.8
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 20171; 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
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