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Needs Improvement

#1680 of 1,851 schools in VA

Coates Elementary

Elementary School · Fairfax County Public Schools

2480 River Birch Rd., Herndon, VA 20171

Enrollment

951

Student-Teacher

17:1

Score

3.6

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#1,680 of 1,851

In Herndon

#12 of 14

public schools

In district

#183 of 199

Fairfax County Public Schools

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Coates Elementary

3.6/10

Elementary School in Herndon · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Berthold Academy for the Gifted and Talented

Nearby

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Guidepost Montessori at Herndon

Nearby

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Coates Elementary

Coates Elementary is a public elementary school in Herndon, VA, part of Fairfax County Public Schools. Coates Elementary serves approximately 951 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. Coates Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,680 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Coates Elementary show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.9 pts below district
  • This school 3.6 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 6.5
  • VA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.4Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.67 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.8Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency59% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency51% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg-14.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-24.7 pts
Overall Proficiency55% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)74% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected-18.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile10th
Resources & Environment5.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,975
Chronic Absenteeism19.8%

Coates Elementary — Students at Coates Elementary score 55% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 74%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

61%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 67.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
70.0% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 64.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 SOL)

Based on 36 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
83%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
66%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
64%
ELA
66%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
65%
ELA
70%
2015
Math
66%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
74%
2017
ELA
62%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
64%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
64%
2020*
Math
48%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
48%
ELA
55%
2025
Math
63.8%
ELA
51%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.4/10.

How Coates Elementary Compares

See how Coates Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.6/10
9th percentile in VA
Academic
2.8/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
5.2/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
61%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
56 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2480 River Birch Rd., Herndon, VA 20171

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Coates Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Oak Hill Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is McNair Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Fox Mill Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Herndon, see our Herndon schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
BERTHOLD ACADEMY FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED Herndon 0.7 mi
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT HERNDON Herndon 0.8 mi
Hutchison Elementary Herndon 0.9 mi 3.3
McNair Elementary Herndon 0.9 mi 8.2
McNair Upper Elementary Herndon 0.9 mi 8.1
Floris Elementary Herndon 1.2 mi 6.8
KING ABDULLAH ACADEMY Herndon 1.5 mi 7.2
Carson Middle Herndon 1.7 mi 7.3
NYSMITH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED Herndon 1.9 mi 7.8
DULLES MONTESSORI SCHOOL Herndon 1.9 mi
Herndon Middle Herndon 1.8 mi 4.5
MONTESSORI COUNTRY SCHOOL Herndon 1.8 mi
ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Herndon 2.0 mi 5.1
FAIRFAX CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Dulles 2.4 mi 7.8
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF CHANTILLY Chantilly 2.7 mi
Oak Hill Elementary Herndon 2.7 mi 8.4
Forest Grove Elementary Sterling 2.8 mi 4.7
Clearview Elementary Herndon 2.7 mi 5.4
ST VERONICA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Chantilly 3.0 mi 6.4
Fox Mill Elementary Herndon 2.6 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 20171 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$166,154

Median Home Value

$770,200

Median Rent

$2,276/mo

Population

50,796

College Educated

73.8%

Homeownership

56.2%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

3.7%

Median Age

35.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Frances Hazel Reid Elementary Leesburg, VA 3.6
Hollin Meadows Elementary Alexandria, VA 3.6
Lafayette Elementary Fredericksburg, VA 3.6
Carver Elementary Newport News, VA 3.5
Cedar Forest Elementary Fredericksburg, VA 3.7
Parklawn Elementary Alexandria, VA 3.5

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
23 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
37 Some Transit
Bike Score
39 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
951
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
Teachers (FTE)
56
Free/Reduced Lunch
61.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Fairfax County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.8%

District

Fairfax County Public Schools
District Enrollment
180,714
Schools in District
223
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,975
District Rank
#183 of 199

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