Below Average
#1623 of 1,851 schools in VA
James River Elementary
Elementary School · Williamsburg-james City County Public Schools · Williamsburg, VA
A Williamsburg-james City County Public Schools elementary school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
8901 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185
- Math 67% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 57% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at James River Elementary score 61% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 28 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 62% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (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
64.9%
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 James River Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 28Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,410/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Williamsburg), 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
$103,507
Median home value
$413,500
Median rent
$1,425/mo
College educated
52%
Homeownership
73.3%
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 23185; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Johnson ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK–5 | 2.9 mi | 526 | Compare → |
| General Stanford ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | 4.4 mi | 468 | Compare → |
| D.j. Montague ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | Not available | 520 | Compare → |
| J. Blaine Blayton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 495 | 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.
Williamsburg-james City County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 16
- Rank in district
- #16 of 16
- District spending per student
- $14,756NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
James River Elementary is listed in Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About James River Elementary
James River Elementary is a public elementary school in Williamsburg, VA, part of Williamsburg-james City County Public Schools, serving approximately 445 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,623 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James River Elementary
What grades does James River Elementary serve?
James River Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend James River Elementary?
James River Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 445 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James River Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James River Elementary is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James River Elementary rank in VA?
James River Elementary ranks #1,623 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is James River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
James River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 River Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James River Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is James River Elementary a charter school?
No, James River Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James River Elementary a Title I school?
No, James River Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James River Elementary?
64.9% of students at James River 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 445
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- James City County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.6%
- Phone
- (757) 887-1768
- Area population (ZIP 23185)
- 54,411
- Area average commute
- 23.6 min
- Area median age
- 39.8
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 23185; 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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