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Excellent

#46 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 2% in state

Discovery Elementary

Elementary School · Arlington County Public Schools

5241 36th Street North, Arlington, VA 22207

Enrollment

523

Student-Teacher

13.4:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#46 of 1,851

In Arlington

#8 of 36

public schools

In district

#8 of 36

Arlington County Public Schools

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Discovery Elementary

9.1/10

Elementary School in Arlington · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Montessori Public School of Arlington

9.5/10

Arlington, VA. Compare side by side with Discovery Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

Nottingham Elementary

9.5/10

Arlington, VA. Compare side by side with Discovery Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

About Discovery Elementary

Discovery Elementary is a public elementary school in Arlington, VA, part of Arlington County Public Schools. Discovery Elementary serves approximately 523 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Discovery Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #46 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Discovery Elementary show 92% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025) and 91% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025).

How it compares1.8 pts above district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.3
  • VA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data8
Annual Change-0.18 pts/yr
Data Period2015–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency95% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency94% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+21.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.3 pts
Overall Proficiency95% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)89% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+5.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,424
Chronic Absenteeism9.2%

Discovery Elementary — Students at Discovery Elementary score 94% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 89%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

4.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 91.5% (multi-year average, 2015-2025)
School
State
73.5% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 91.2% (multi-year average, 2015-2025)
School
State
72.2% (2025 SOL)

Based on 21 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2015
Math
93%
ELA
95%
2016
Math
94%
ELA
93%
2017
ELA
92%
2018
Math
95%
ELA
88%
2019
Math
95%
ELA
88%
2020*
Math
78%
ELA
85%
2021*
Math
78%
ELA
85%
2025
Math
95.5%
ELA
94.3%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Discovery Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.1/10
98th percentile in VA
Academic
9.1/10
Excellent
Growth
8.8/10
Excellent
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
4%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
9.2%

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

5241 36th Street North, Arlington, VA 22207

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Discovery Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Nottingham Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Glebe Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Tuckahoe Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 1.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Arlington, see our Arlington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Williamsburg Middle Arlington 0.1 mi 9.5
Yorktown High Arlington 0.5 mi 8.6
Nottingham Elementary Arlington 0.6 mi 9.5
Chesterbrook Elementary Mclean 0.8 mi 8.4
CHESTERBROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL Arlington 0.7 mi
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MCLEAN Mclean 0.9 mi 7.9
RIVENDELL SCHOOL Arlington 1.0 mi 4.2
BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL Mclean 0.9 mi
BISHOP DENIS J. OCONNELL HIGH SCHOOL Arlington 1.2 mi 5.9
Tuckahoe Elementary Arlington 1.3 mi 9.2
ST JOHN THE BELOVED ACADEMY Mclean 1.4 mi 7.7
Cardinal Elementary Arlington 1.5 mi 8.7
Swanson Middle Arlington 1.8 mi 7.8
Haycock Elementary Falls Church 1.5 mi 9.1
Longfellow Middle Falls Church 1.5 mi 8.6
Arlington Traditional Arlington 2.1 mi 8.9
Glebe Elementary Arlington 1.8 mi 9.4
Kent Gardens Elementary Mclean 1.7 mi 9.1
Taylor Elementary Arlington 1.8 mi 8.6
Jessie Thackrey Preschool Falls Church 2.2 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 22207 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$237,126

Median Home Value

$1,201,800

Median Rent

$2,305/mo

Population

35,186

College Educated

78.4%

Homeownership

78.9%

Avg Commute

24.8 min

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Median Age

42.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Colonial Elementary Troutville, VA 9.1
Rural Retreat Elementary Rural Retreat, VA 9.1
Thomas C. McSwain Elementary Staunton, VA 9.1
Brownsville Elementary Crozet, VA 9.2
Crewe Primary Crewe, VA 9.0
Forestville Elementary Great Falls, VA 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Discovery Elementary

What grades does Discovery Elementary serve?

Discovery Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Discovery Elementary?

Discovery Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 523 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary is 13.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Discovery Elementary rank in VA?

Discovery Elementary ranks #46 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Discovery Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Discovery Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Discovery Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Discovery Elementary has 92% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025) and 91% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025).

Is Discovery Elementary a charter school?

No, Discovery Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Discovery Elementary a Title I school?

No, Discovery Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery Elementary?

4.2% of students at Discovery 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
27 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
36 Some Transit
Bike Score
47 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does Discovery Elementary stack up?

Montessori Public School of Arlington
9.5
Nottingham Elementary
9.5
Tuckahoe Elementary
9.2
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
523
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
4.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Arlington County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
9.2%

District

Arlington County Public Schools
District Enrollment
27,508
Schools in District
42
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,424
District Rank
#8 of 36

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