J.B. Watkins Elementary

Summary:

J.B. Watkins Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Midlothian, Virginia, serving 814 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Chesterfield County Public Schools district.

J.B. Watkins Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Virginia, with a statewide ranking between 44-119 over the past 10 years. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school ranked 80th out of 1,114 Virginia elementary schools and received a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students outperform their peers in the district and state on SOL assessments, with a 3rd-grade math proficiency rate of 92.59% compared to 68.43% for the district and 70.11% for the state. J.B. Watkins Elementary also performs exceptionally well across various student subgroups, including female students, male students, Asian students, African American students, and white students, as well as low socioeconomic status students.

When compared to other nearby elementary schools in the Chesterfield County Public Schools district, J.B. Watkins Elementary stands out as a high-performing school. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, J.B. Watkins Elementary's 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was 92.59%, compared to 74.48% for Woolridge Elementary, 48.6% for Reams Road Elementary, and 69.01% for Evergreen Elementary.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 501 Coalfield Rd.
       Midlothian, VA  23114-4406


(804) 378-2530

District: Chesterfield County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
80th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,759 Help


Students who attend J.B. Watkins Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Midlothian Middle
High:    Midlothian High

Student/teacher ratio:  16.4 Help
Number of students:  814

Racial breakdown:

White:
70.1%
African American:
8.7%
Asian:
8.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  15.5% Help


 See top rated Virginia elementary schools

 Compare J.B. Watkins Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details J.B. Watkins Elementary ranks better than 92.8% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks first among 39 ranked elementary schools in the Chesterfield County Public Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87.36. (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 J.B. Watkins Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Chesterfield County Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at J.B. Watkins Elementary is $6,759. 23 elementary schools in the Chesterfield County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

J.B. Watkins Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks J.B. Watkins Elementary 80th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See J.B. Watkins Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
White students:


Chesterfield County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Chesterfield County Public Schools 82nd of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for J.B. Watkins Elementary?

Rank History for J.B. Watkins Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 81.38 118th 1062 88.9%
2006 71.17 251st 1071 76.6%
2007 83.76 69th 1083 93.6%
2008 75.42 181st 1081 83.3%
2009 76.36 163rd 1082 84.9%
2010 73.24 211th 1113 81.0%
2011 71.54 250th 1117 77.6%
2012 80.27 129th 1117 88.5%
2013 78.33 172nd 1120 84.6%
2014 79.09 163rd 1110 85.3%
2015 78.94 165th 1100 85.0%
2016 77.59 183rd 1096 83.3%
2017 80.74 141st 1099 87.2%
2018 88.44 44th 1097 96.0%
2019 86.29 60th 1105 94.6%
2021 87.19 119th 1103 89.2%
2022 87.53 91st 1109 91.8%
2023 89.17 59th 1114 94.7%
2024 87.36 80th 1114 92.8%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 85.09 25th 245 89.8%
2024 65.00 94th 247 61.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 80.99 111th 1036 89.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 87.66 66th 1100 94.0%
2024 86.95 77th 1098 93.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 63.21 115th 324 64.5%
2024 57.77 164th 355 53.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 88.07 62nd 1093 94.3%
2024 84.95 107th 1101 90.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 77.67 31st 230 86.5%
2024 77.88 29th 238 87.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 89.12 32nd 579 94.5%
2024 88.83 31st 588 94.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 77.58 102nd 564 81.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at J.B. Watkins Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 83.90 67th 984 93.2%
2024 79.72 123rd 979 87.4%
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.

J.B. Watkins 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)
75%

0%

0%

0%

25%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, July 23, 2016

Open Quote JB Watkins offers a fantastic educational experience for children and a wonderful opportunity for parental involvement! Teachers are devoted to their students and the school offers great activities; (Jog Walk Club, Chess Club, Lego League, a Talent Show). Our family loves this school! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, March 26, 2015

Open Quote The teachers at JB Watkins are some of the hardest working people on the planet. They are creative, compassionate and talented. Our three children have had a fantastic experience at Watkins. Annual traditions like the Pumpkin Lighting and Spring Carnival are wonderful events that promote school spirit. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, October 1, 2012

Open Quote We moved to the area for the neighborhood called The Grove. We have not been happy with the elementary school so far due to the crowding and one particular teacher. Students in the 4th and 5th grades are in very crowded and small trailers with very loud a/c units. One 4th grade teacher is disrespectful to children and is not very organized. We have had a hard time being able to speak with the Principal or Vice-Principal because they are "too busy" or out of town. Taxes are low here but so are the priorities of the county to provide good schools for the children. We are disappointed. Close Quote



Enrollment information for J.B. Watkins 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 1001 1001
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1006 1006
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1049 1049
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1076 1076
1993 997 62 27 2 1 n/a n/a 0 1089
1994 1052 60 29 2 2 n/a n/a 0 1145
1995 616 47 18 3 0 n/a n/a 0 684
1996 616 47 18 3 0 n/a n/a 0 684
1997 632 43 19 3 0 n/a n/a 0 697
1998 616 51 20 9 1 n/a n/a 0 697
1999 610 51 22 10 1 n/a n/a 0 694
2000 604 59 20 7 2 n/a n/a -4 688
2001 590 62 26 22 2 n/a n/a 0 702
2002 667 71 39 22 2 n/a n/a 0 801
2003 667 71 39 22 2 n/a n/a 0 801
2004 678 86 35 17 5 n/a n/a 4 825
2005 643 71 35 14 4 n/a n/a 4 771
2006 616 82 34 18 12 n/a n/a 11 773
2007 606 90 31 12 10 n/a n/a 10 759
2008 655 95 49 19 13 n/a n/a 9 840
2009 725 88 45 22 11 n/a n/a 14 905
2010 738 97 44 25 6 n/a n/a 34 944
2011 767 89 60 30 1 2 46 0 995
2012 817 96 63 28 0 3 40 0 1047
2013 808 110 57 26 0 3 30 0 1034
2014 806 91 64 27 1 3 25 0 1017
2015 801 91 74 17 2 2 33 0 1020
2016 823 107 77 28 4 4 36 0 1079
2017 879 101 78 31 4 2 47 0 1142
2018 928 95 84 45 5 0 63 0 1220
2019 937 83 81 63 5 1 62 0 1232
2020 591 68 57 46 2 2 48 0 814
2021 511 71 51 37 2 1 48 0 721
2022 566 67 70 41 2 0 45 0 791
2023 571 71 71 45 0 0 56 0 814

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 J.B. Watkins Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1001 48.5 20.6 n/a
1990 1006 51.2 19.6 n/a
1991 1049 54.7 19.1 n/a
1992 1076 55.7 19.3 n/a
1993 1089 54.2 20.1 n/a
1994 1145 46.4 n/a 1.8
1995 684 n/a 0.0 2
1996 684 n/a 0.0 2
1997 697 n/a 0.0 1.6
1998 697 n/a 0.0 2.3
1999 694 40.0 17.4 4.2
2000 688 n/a 0.0 4.9
2001 702 42.6 16.5 5.3
2002 801 52.0 15.4 6.5
2003 801 52.0 15.4 6.5
2004 825 49.0 16.8 n/a
2005 771 48.0 16.1 6.5
2006 773 48.0 16.1 7.5
2007 759 48.6 15.6 8.4
2008 840 39.0 21.5 8.8
2009 905 44.3 20.4 10.2
2010 944 44.2 21.3 11.2
2011 995 46.7 21.2 9.9
2012 1047 51.8 20.2 11.1
2013 1034 51.5 20.0 12.4
2014 1017 54.8 18.5 10.6
2015 1020 54.0 18.8 12.3
2016 1079 59.0 18.2 10.6
2017 1142 60.6 18.8 8.7
2018 1220 65.3 18.6 10.7
2019 1232 66.1 18.6 11
2020 814 46.8 17.3 12.9
2021 721 49.3 14.6 n/a
2022 791 52.6 15.0 13.3
2023 814 49.5 16.4 15.5

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 J.B. Watkins Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1001 48.5 20.6 n/a
1990 1006 51.2 19.6 n/a
1991 1049 54.7 19.1 n/a
1992 1076 55.7 19.3 n/a
1993 1089 54.2 20.1 n/a
1994 1145 46.4 n/a 1.8
1995 684 n/a 0.0 2
1996 684 n/a 0.0 2
1997 697 n/a 0.0 1.6
1998 697 n/a 0.0 2.3
1999 694 40.0 17.4 4.2
2000 688 n/a 0.0 4.9
2001 702 42.6 16.5 5.3
2002 801 52.0 15.4 6.5
2003 801 52.0 15.4 6.5
2004 825 49.0 16.8 n/a
2005 771 48.0 16.1 6.5
2006 773 48.0 16.1 7.5
2007 759 48.6 15.6 8.4
2008 840 39.0 21.5 8.8
2009 905 44.3 20.4 10.2
2010 944 44.2 21.3 11.2
2011 995 46.7 21.2 9.9
2012 1047 51.8 20.2 11.1
2013 1034 51.5 20.0 12.4
2014 1017 54.8 18.5 10.6
2015 1020 54.0 18.8 12.3
2016 1079 59.0 18.2 10.6
2017 1142 60.6 18.8 8.7
2018 1220 65.3 18.6 10.7
2019 1232 66.1 18.6 11
2020 814 46.8 17.3 12.9
2021 721 49.3 14.6 n/a
2022 791 52.6 15.0 13.3
2023 814 49.5 16.4 15.5

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 J.B. Watkins Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $55 (1.1%) $4,945 (98.9%) $5,000
2020 $86 (1.6%) $5,344 (98.4%) $5,430
2021 $204 (3.0%) $6,556 (97.0%) $6,759

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

Impact of COVID-19 on J.B. Watkins 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 60th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 59th of 1114 Elementary schools
 0.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9793.3
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Chesterfield County Public Schools)8467.4
 16.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9391.8
 1.2%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Chesterfield County Public Schools)7366.9
 6.1%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9788.1
 8.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Chesterfield County Public Schools)8567.5
 17.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9288.7
 3.3%
   4th Grade English Reading (Chesterfield County Public Schools)7973.5
 5.5%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9180
 11%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Chesterfield County Public Schools)7650.8
 25.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9390.9
 2.1%
   5th Grade Science (Chesterfield County Public Schools)8167.7
 13.3%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (J.B. Watkins Elementary)8993.3
 4.3%
   5th Grade English Reading (Chesterfield County Public Schools)8171.6
 9.4%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (J.B. Watkins Elementary)9695
 1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Chesterfield County Public Schools)8055
 25%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7857
 21%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students1232814
 33.9%
African American8371
 14.5%
American Indian50
 100%
Asian8171
 12.3%
Hispanic6345
 28.6%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White937571
 39.1%
Two or More Races6256
 9.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients11%15.5%
 4.5%


Schools Near J.B. Watkins Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about J.B. Watkins Elementary

Students who attend J.B. Watkins Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Midlothian Middle
High : Midlothian High

Students at J.B. Watkins Elementary are 70% White, 9% African American, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

In the 2022-23 school year, 814 students attended J.B. Watkins Elementary.

Yes. J.B. Watkins Elementary ranks in the top 7.2% of Virginia elementary schools.


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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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