Below Average
#1427 of 1,851 schools in VA
James K. Polk Elementary
Elementary School · Alexandria City Public Schools · Alexandria, VA
An Alexandria City Public Schools elementary school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5000 Polk Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304
- Math 65% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 57% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at James K. Polk Elementary score 61% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 61% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (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
76.6%
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 James K. Polk 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 27Car-Dependent
- Transit 52Good Transit
- Bike 59Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,862/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Alexandria), 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
$97,629
Median home value
$496,000
Median rent
$1,934/mo
College educated
59%
Homeownership
41.1%
Poverty rate
10%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 22304; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Henry K-8 SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–8 | 0.4 mi | 1,058 | Compare → |
| Ferdinand T. Day ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 621 | Compare → |
| St Stephens & St Agnes School - Upper SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.5private | PK–12 | 0.9 mi | 1,160 | Compare → |
| William Ramsay ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 654 | 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.
Alexandria City Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #15 of 18
- District spending per student
- $21,716NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
James K. Polk Elementary is listed in Alexandria City Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About James K. Polk Elementary
James K. Polk Elementary is a public elementary school in Alexandria, VA, part of Alexandria City Public Schools, serving approximately 833 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,427 of 1,851 schools in VA.
State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James K. Polk Elementary
What grades does James K. Polk Elementary serve?
James K. Polk Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend James K. Polk Elementary?
James K. Polk Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 833 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James K. Polk Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James K. Polk Elementary is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James K. Polk Elementary rank in VA?
James K. Polk Elementary ranks #1,427 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is James K. Polk Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
James K. Polk Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 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 James K. Polk Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James K. Polk Elementary has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is James K. Polk Elementary a charter school?
No, James K. Polk Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James K. Polk Elementary a Title I school?
No, James K. Polk Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James K. Polk Elementary?
76.6% of students at James K. Polk 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
- 833
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Alexandria city
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.7%
- Phone
- (703) 461-4180
- Area population (ZIP 22304)
- 48,577
- Area average commute
- 29.2 min
- Area median age
- 37.5
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 22304; 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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