Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Summary:

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary is a public magnet elementary school in Arlington, Virginia, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 469. The school is part of the Arlington County Public Schools district, which is ranked 26th out of 130 districts in Virginia and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary stands out for its significantly more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with 31.34% African American, 40.51% Hispanic, and only 18.12% White students. However, the school consistently ranks in the bottom half of Virginia elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Its performance on SOL (Standards of Learning) tests is significantly lower than the Arlington County Public Schools district and the state of Virginia averages across all grade levels and subject areas. The school also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, reaching 73.99% in the 2022-2023 school year, much higher than the nearby schools like Alice West Fleet Elementary and Abingdon Elementary.

Despite the higher spending per student ($16,779 in 2020-2021) and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary's academic challenges persist. This suggests that factors beyond just funding and staffing may be contributing to the school's underperformance. The school's unique demographic and performance profile present an opportunity for the Arlington County Public Schools district to implement targeted interventions and support programs to address the specific needs of the student population and improve educational outcomes.


Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-5

 3500 South 23rd Street
       Arlington, VA  22206-2501


(703) 228-5825

District: Arlington County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
959th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,779 Help


Students who attend Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary usually attend:

High:    Wakefield High

Student/teacher ratio:  9.0 Help
Number of students:  435

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
40.9%
African American:
32.2%
White:
17.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  70.1% Help


 See top rated Virginia elementary schools

 Compare Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary ranks worse than 86.1% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 23rd among 24 ranked elementary schools in the Arlington County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.73. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (40.9%), African American (32.2%), White (17.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 70.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary is 9, which is the 2nd best among 24 elementary schools in the Arlington County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary employs 48.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary is $16,779, which is the 4th highest among 24 elementary schools in the Arlington County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary 959th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Arlington County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Arlington County Public Schools 26th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary?

Rank History for Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 17.87 982nd 1062 7.5%
2006 35.12 836th 1071 21.9%
2007 14.25 1035th 1083 4.4%
2008 2.50 1074th 1081 0.6%
2009 6.32 1068th 1082 1.3%
2010 19.31 1039th 1113 6.6%
2011 26.19 983rd 1117 12.0%
2012 19.54 1027th 1117 8.1%
2013 21.22 981st 1120 12.4%
2014 34.85 825th 1110 25.7%
2015 38.17 786th 1100 28.5%
2016 34.18 838th 1096 23.5%
2017 50.69 608th 1099 44.7%
2018 20.05 968th 1097 11.8%
2019 31.30 860th 1105 22.2%
2021 24.89 855th 1103 22.5%
2022 33.06 809th 1109 27.1%
2023 15.38 976th 1114 12.4%
2024 17.73 959th 1114 13.9%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 42.50 168th 300 44.0%
2024 35.89 199th 306 35.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 25.75 845th 1036 18.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 18.89 954th 1100 13.3%
2024 23.67 900th 1098 18.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 12.82 993rd 1093 9.1%
2024 15.69 971st 1101 11.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 14.90 524th 579 9.5%
2024 31.58 457th 588 22.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 30.63 425th 564 24.6%
2024 20.19 497th 580 14.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 44.13 607th 984 38.3%
2024 47.99 586th 979 40.1%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.5)
50%

50%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, June 18, 2018

Open Quote I can't speak to the general program, but the Montessori program at Drew is wonderful. We had our child a supposedly "better" neighborhood school, but were unhappy there the administration was rigid, the school was overcrowded, the principal was distant... The principal at Drew is wonderful, the teachers are caring, the Montessori experience is very child-centered, we have no complaints. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, February 19, 2016

Open Quote This school is made up of two different "schools" in one building. I have two boys that go there in the Montessori program. One is in Kindergarten and the other is Pk-3. We love the school and are very grateful that we got into the Montessori program there. The Montessori goes from 3 years old until 5th grade. The teachers are great and very involved. The principal for the entire school has a Montessori background. The only reason I didn't give the school 5 stars is because of the two schools in one model. The school board is talking about moving the Montessori students to their own school in 2-4 years. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 415 415
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 401 401
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 381 381
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 391 391
1993 173 117 6 42 1 n/a n/a 0 339
1994 161 138 14 46 1 n/a n/a 0 360
1995 145 143 19 55 1 n/a n/a 0 363
1996 145 143 19 55 1 n/a n/a 0 363
1997 125 133 19 65 1 n/a n/a 0 343
1998 108 123 19 83 1 n/a n/a 0 334
1999 109 137 15 96 2 n/a n/a 0 359
2000 84 134 20 95 2 n/a n/a -4 331
2001 82 153 24 100 0 n/a n/a 0 359
2002 93 216 42 118 1 n/a n/a 0 470
2003 93 216 42 118 1 n/a n/a 0 470
2004 88 214 44 119 0 n/a n/a 1 466
2005 81 229 42 112 0 n/a n/a 17 481
2006 86 196 46 118 0 n/a n/a 15 461
2007 93 185 45 128 0 n/a n/a 25 476
2008 91 190 52 156 0 n/a n/a 39 528
2009 85 186 46 151 0 n/a n/a 53 521
2010 102 191 41 159 1 n/a n/a 29 523
2011 108 203 31 188 1 0 20 0 551
2012 131 207 39 191 1 0 14 0 583
2013 135 206 40 207 5 0 19 0 612
2014 138 204 58 209 7 0 24 0 640
2015 156 184 54 212 6 0 29 0 641
2016 166 187 55 216 5 0 28 0 657
2017 183 199 54 204 8 1 30 0 679
2018 181 193 51 218 6 1 45 0 695
2019 178 178 48 214 5 1 49 0 673
2020 77 157 33 173 2 0 20 0 462
2021 63 136 40 163 2 0 18 0 422
2022 72 144 43 179 1 0 14 0 453
2023 85 147 28 190 1 0 18 0 469
2024 75 140 25 178 2 0 15 0 435

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 415 25.0 16.6 n/a
1990 401 25.1 15.9 n/a
1991 381 24.3 15.6 n/a
1992 391 24.7 15.8 n/a
1993 339 27.6 12.3 n/a
1994 360 26.3 n/a 29.2
1995 363 n/a 0.0 34.7
1996 363 n/a 0.0 34.7
1997 343 n/a 0.0 35
1998 334 n/a 0.0 42.5
1999 359 36.0 10.0 50.4
2000 331 n/a 0.0 57.6
2001 359 37.0 9.7 50.4
2002 470 46.5 10.1 42.6
2003 470 46.5 10.1 42.6
2004 466 40.4 11.5 43
2005 481 41.4 11.6 53.4
2006 461 44.0 10.5 51.6
2007 476 35.0 13.6 48.1
2008 528 39.0 13.5 48.7
2009 521 41.8 12.5 53.4
2010 523 43.1 12.1 58.9
2011 551 34.8 15.8 52.3
2012 583 44.0 13.2 51.1
2013 612 57.2 10.6 55.9
2014 640 52.8 12.1 58.3
2015 641 50.0 12.8 54.8
2016 657 28.0 23.4 54.8
2017 679 47.9 14.1 53.5
2018 695 51.6 13.4 52.4
2019 673 48.3 13.9 49.2
2020 462 38.5 11.9 57.8
2021 422 37.8 11.1 n/a
2022 453 37.1 12.1 58.9
2023 469 47.0 9.9 74
2024 435 48.3 9.0 70.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 415 25.0 16.6 n/a
1990 401 25.1 15.9 n/a
1991 381 24.3 15.6 n/a
1992 391 24.7 15.8 n/a
1993 339 27.6 12.3 n/a
1994 360 26.3 n/a 29.2
1995 363 n/a 0.0 34.7
1996 363 n/a 0.0 34.7
1997 343 n/a 0.0 35
1998 334 n/a 0.0 42.5
1999 359 36.0 10.0 50.4
2000 331 n/a 0.0 57.6
2001 359 37.0 9.7 50.4
2002 470 46.5 10.1 42.6
2003 470 46.5 10.1 42.6
2004 466 40.4 11.5 43
2005 481 41.4 11.6 53.4
2006 461 44.0 10.5 51.6
2007 476 35.0 13.6 48.1
2008 528 39.0 13.5 48.7
2009 521 41.8 12.5 53.4
2010 523 43.1 12.1 58.9
2011 551 34.8 15.8 52.3
2012 583 44.0 13.2 51.1
2013 612 57.2 10.6 55.9
2014 640 52.8 12.1 58.3
2015 641 50.0 12.8 54.8
2016 657 28.0 23.4 54.8
2017 679 47.9 14.1 53.5
2018 695 51.6 13.4 52.4
2019 673 48.3 13.9 49.2
2020 462 38.5 11.9 57.8
2021 422 37.8 11.1 n/a
2022 453 37.1 12.1 58.9
2023 469 47.0 9.9 74
2024 435 48.3 9.0 70.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $372 (2.7%) $13,452 (97.3%) $13,823
2020 $730 (4.8%) $14,637 (95.2%) $15,367
2021 $621 (3.7%) $16,158 (96.3%) $16,779

Data source: Virginia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 860th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 976th of 1114 Elementary schools
 9.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)7858.9
 19.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Arlington County Public Schools)8779.2
 7.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)7247.3
 24.7%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Arlington County Public Schools)7876.4
 1.6%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)7151.3
 19.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Arlington County Public Schools)8778.4
 8.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)6647.3
 18.7%
   4th Grade English Reading (Arlington County Public Schools)8179.3
 1.7%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)7651.7
 24.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Arlington County Public Schools)8877.8
 10.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)6740
 27%
   5th Grade Science (Arlington County Public Schools)8272.7
 9.3%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary)7557.9
 17.1%
   5th Grade English Reading (Arlington County Public Schools)8480
 4%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students673469
 30.3%
African American178147
 17.4%
American Indian51
 80%
Asian4828
 41.7%
Hispanic214190
 11.2%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White17885
 52.2%
Two or More Races4918
 63.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients49.2%74%
 24.8%


Schools Near Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary ranks in the bottom 13.9% of Virginia elementary schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 435 students attended Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary.

Students at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary are 41% Hispanic, 32% African American, 17% White, 6% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

Students who attend Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Wakefield High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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