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Needs Improvement

#1628 of 1,851 schools in VA

Southside Elementary

Elementary School · Dinwiddie County Public Schools

10305 Boydton Plank Rd, Dinwiddie, VA 23841

Enrollment

468

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

3.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#1,628 of 1,851

In Dinwiddie

#4 of 4

public schools

In district

#7 of 7

Dinwiddie County Public Schools

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Southside Elementary

3.9/10

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

Rivermont School - Greater Petersburg

6.6/10

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

Dinwiddie County High

6.2/10

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

About Southside Elementary

Southside Elementary is a public elementary school in Dinwiddie, VA, part of Dinwiddie County Public Schools. Southside Elementary serves approximately 468 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Southside Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,628 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Southside Elementary show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.1 pts below district
  • This school 3.9 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 6.0
  • VA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Southside Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.7Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.56 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.8Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency59% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg-17.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-16.7 pts
Overall Proficiency58% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)66% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected-8.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile19th
Resources & Environment4.6Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,552
Chronic Absenteeism23.1%

Southside Elementary — Students at Southside Elementary score 58% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

90.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 69.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.5% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 71.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.2% (2025 SOL)

Based on 33 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
97.5%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
97.5%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
58%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
54%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
69%
2014
Math
78%
ELA
80%
2015
Math
81%
ELA
80%
2016
Math
84%
ELA
78%
2017
ELA
79%
2018
Math
89%
ELA
78%
2019
Math
89%
ELA
78%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
56.3%
ELA
59.5%

* 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: 3.7/10.

How Southside Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
3.9/10
12th percentile in VA
Academic
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.7/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
4.6/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
90%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.1%

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

10305 Boydton Plank Rd, Dinwiddie, VA 23841

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Southside Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Midway Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 6.3 miles away, in nearby Church Road), which scores notably higher. Another option is North Elementary (rated 6.7/10, 12.1 miles away, in nearby Colonial Heights), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Ettrick Elementary (rated 6.3/10, 9.5 miles away, in nearby Ettrick), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Dinwiddie, see our Dinwiddie schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.9 mi
School Distance Rating
RIVERMONT SCHOOL - GREATER PETERSBURG Dinwiddie 2.4 mi 6.6
Dinwiddie County High Dinwiddie 2.8 mi 6.2
Dinwiddie County Middle Dinwiddie 3.2 mi 4.9
Sutherland Elementary Sutherland 4.1 mi 5.0
Dinwiddie Elementary Dinwiddie 4.3 mi 5.9
Midway Elementary Church Road 6.3 mi 7.5
Matoaca Elementary South Chesterfield 7.5 mi 4.9
Matoaca Middle Matoaca 8.6 mi 3.4
Pleasants Lane Elementary Petersburg 8.1 mi 2.1
Westview Early Childhood Education Center Petersburg 8.5 mi 3.3
Cool Spring Elementary Petersburg 8.4 mi 2.8
Petersburg High Petersburg 8.5 mi 3.9
Vernon Johns Middle Petersburg 8.7 mi 2.2
Ettrick Elementary Ettrick 9.5 mi 6.3
Matoaca High Chesterfield 10.9 mi 6.4
Walnut Hill Elementary Petersburg 9.6 mi 4.4
Colonial Heights Middle Colonial Heights 11.0 mi 4.6
Lakeview Elementary Colonial Heights 11.5 mi 4.9
North Elementary Colonial Heights 12.1 mi 6.7
BREC ACADEMY Petersburg 10.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 23841 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$68,487

Median Home Value

$258,900

Median Rent

$1,252/mo

Population

2,938

College Educated

34%

Homeownership

90%

Poverty Rate

2.3%

Median Age

44.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bass-Hoover Elementary Stephens City, VA 3.9
Bluestone Elementary Harrisonburg, VA 3.9
Cora Kelly School for Math Science and Technology Alexandria, VA 3.9
Crestwood Elementary Springfield, VA 3.9
Farmington Elementary Culpeper, VA 3.9
Hurt Park Elementary Roanoke, VA 3.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Southside Elementary

What grades does Southside Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Southside Elementary?

Southside Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 468 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Southside Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Southside Elementary rank in VA?

Southside Elementary ranks #1,628 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Southside Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Southside Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 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 Southside Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Southside Elementary has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Southside Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Southside Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

90.4% of students at Southside 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
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
468
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
90.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Dinwiddie County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.1%

District

Dinwiddie County Public Schools
District Enrollment
4,256
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,552
District Rank
#7 of 7

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