Best Elementary Schools in Roanoke, VA

The city of Roanoke, Virginia is home to 28 elementary schools, a mix of public schools under the Roanoke City Public Schools and Roanoke County Public Schools districts. These schools serve students from diverse socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds, with varying levels of academic performance and resources.

A few schools stand out as high-performing, including Bonsack Elementary, Penn Forest Elementary, and Oak Grove Elementary. These Roanoke County schools rank among the top elementary schools in Virginia, with exceptional test scores and high ratings. In contrast, schools like Round Hill Elementary, Westside Elementary, and Lincoln Terrace Elementary struggle with low proficiency rates, highlighting significant disparities in academic achievement across the Roanoke school system.

The data reveals a strong correlation between a school's socioeconomic status, as measured by free and reduced lunch rates, and its academic performance. Schools serving higher-poverty communities tend to have lower test scores, suggesting systemic inequities in educational opportunities and resources. However, there are exceptions, such as Grandin Court Elementary, which demonstrates that with the right strategies and support, high-poverty schools can still achieve success. Overall, the Roanoke elementary school landscape is complex, with both areas of strength and significant challenges that need to be addressed to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.