Kent Gardens Elementary

Summary:

Kent Gardens Elementary is a highly-rated public magnet elementary school located in McLean, Virginia, serving 1,023 students from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. This school is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools district, which is ranked 41 out of 130 school districts in Virginia and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kent Gardens Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Virginia, ranking 23rd out of 1,114 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, with over 90% scoring proficient or better on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments in mathematics, science, and English reading across all grade levels. While the student population is majority white (around 54%), the school also has a significant representation of Asian (around 26%) and multi-racial (around 9%) students, making it more diverse than many nearby schools. Additionally, Kent Gardens Elementary has a very low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (only 3.52%), suggesting it serves a relatively affluent community.

Compared to other high-performing schools in the region, Kent Gardens Elementary stands out for its consistently exceptional academic performance across all student subgroups, including female students, male students, and students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's 3rd-grade students scored 95.95% proficient or better in mathematics, significantly outperforming the Fairfax County district (71.31%) and the state of Virginia (70.11%). While Kent Gardens Elementary's per-student spending is lower than some nearby schools, such as Mount Daniel Elementary and Sherman Elementary, it continues to deliver outstanding educational outcomes for its students.


Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-6

 1717 Melbourne Dr
       Mclean, VA  22101


(703) 394-5600

District: Fairfax County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
23rd of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,526 Help


Students who attend Kent Gardens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Longfellow Middle
High:    McLean High

Student/teacher ratio:  16.9 Help
Number of students:  1,023

Racial breakdown:

White:
53.8%
Asian:
26.1%
Two or more races:
9.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  3.5% Help


 See top rated Virginia elementary schools

 Compare Kent Gardens Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Kent Gardens Elementary ranks better than 97.9% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 9th among 137 ranked elementary schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.02. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 Kent Gardens Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Fairfax County Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kent Gardens Elementary is $8,526. 137 elementary schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kent Gardens Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Kent Gardens Elementary 23rd of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Kent Gardens Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Fairfax County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairfax County Public Schools 41st of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Kent Gardens Elementary?

Rank History for Kent Gardens Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 82.72 97th 1062 90.9%
2006 80.80 97th 1071 90.9%
2007 75.84 181st 1083 83.3%
2008 73.86 208th 1081 80.8%
2009 79.80 109th 1082 89.9%
2010 77.69 135th 1113 87.9%
2011 79.80 128th 1117 88.5%
2012 84.64 58th 1117 94.8%
2013 86.84 65th 1120 94.2%
2014 85.91 79th 1110 92.9%
2015 86.25 50th 1100 95.5%
2016 86.22 53rd 1096 95.2%
2017 88.35 49th 1099 95.5%
2018 84.91 92nd 1097 91.6%
2019 85.14 83rd 1105 92.5%
2021 94.10 17th 1103 98.5%
2022 92.81 18th 1109 98.4%
2023 92.93 21st 1114 98.1%
2024 92.02 23rd 1114 97.9%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 92.73 3rd 245 98.8%
2024 87.62 21st 247 91.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 93.45 6th 300 98.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Female students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 91.07 27th 1100 97.5%
2024 89.92 30th 1098 97.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 88.67 13th 324 96.0%
2024 79.93 36th 355 89.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 92.75 16th 1093 98.5%
2024 92.19 19th 1101 98.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 72.96 57th 230 75.2%
2024 79.23 22nd 238 90.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 93.31 16th 564 97.2%
2024 93.89 14th 580 97.6%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Kent Gardens Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 88.51 25th 984 97.5%
2024 82.33 92nd 979 90.6%
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.

Kent Gardens Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
33%

0%

33%

0%

33%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, October 2, 2016

Open Quote Fantastic magnet school that is the only one that offers a French Immersion Program and also an Advanced Academics Program as a local center for level IV. The Principal and the two Assistant Principals are dynamic, innovative and great role models for the children. The teachers are excellent and they inspire the kids to bring out their best. The PTA is superb and really active allocating funds to provide many educational enrichment activities for the students, field trips, training for the teachers, improvements in the building (gym, teachers lounge, playground, etc.), and acquire laptops, ipads and smarboards for the classrooms. Our child feels really happy there and our family is really grateful for the great educational opportunities that she receives every day. We love this school! Kent Gardens is a real treasure! Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Open Quote There are two huge issues at this school: 1) the principal has a "my way or the highway" approach that alienates parents (and the parents are afraid of her for fear of retaliation!)
2) there is constant turnover in the school so as a result teachers are coming and going frequently and the majority have less than 7 years experience Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, November 1, 2010

Open Quote The teachers are mostly great, but every school has issues. Check out the underground parents blog at

http://peelbacktheapple.blogspot.com/

http://kgesteacherratings.blogspot.com/ Close Quote



Enrollment information for Kent Gardens 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 536 536
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 514 514
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 503 503
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 517 517
1993 366 15 102 11 1 n/a n/a 0 495
1994 336 12 115 12 2 n/a n/a 0 477
1995 416 8 125 14 0 n/a n/a 0 563
1996 416 8 125 14 0 n/a n/a 0 563
1997 462 12 137 17 0 n/a n/a 0 628
1998 508 15 116 14 0 n/a n/a 0 653
1999 569 12 118 21 1 n/a n/a 0 721
2000 616 16 117 27 1 n/a n/a -4 773
2001 633 19 134 39 1 n/a n/a 0 826
2002 617 26 141 41 2 n/a n/a 45 872
2003 617 26 141 41 2 n/a n/a 45 872
2004 636 19 135 47 2 n/a n/a 52 891
2005 656 20 129 45 2 n/a n/a 62 914
2006 650 20 157 49 0 n/a n/a 59 935
2007 633 21 163 57 0 n/a n/a 59 933
2008 607 26 162 51 0 n/a n/a 70 916
2009 590 24 159 55 0 n/a n/a 73 901
2010 619 21 165 44 0 n/a n/a 63 912
2011 589 31 154 64 1 2 41 0 882
2012 613 36 138 66 1 1 39 0 894
2013 633 41 141 53 2 1 34 0 905
2014 640 39 135 61 3 2 39 0 919
2015 619 34 155 67 1 3 43 0 922
2016 626 30 149 67 1 3 52 0 928
2017 633 32 166 67 1 5 61 0 965
2018 659 35 175 76 1 4 75 0 1025
2019 619 29 197 74 0 4 73 0 996
2020 622 29 227 83 0 4 82 0 1047
2021 582 31 245 79 0 1 78 0 1016
2022 551 37 258 85 0 1 92 0 1024
2023 550 29 267 83 0 0 94 0 1023

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 Kent Gardens Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 536 29.0 18.4 n/a
1990 514 29.7 17.3 n/a
1991 503 31.3 16.0 n/a
1992 517 31.9 16.2 n/a
1993 495 29.7 16.7 n/a
1994 477 28.7 n/a 0.6
1995 563 n/a 0.0 2
1996 563 n/a 0.0 2
1997 628 n/a 0.0 2.9
1998 653 n/a 0.0 1.1
1999 721 43.0 16.8 3.6
2000 773 n/a 0.0 2.7
2001 826 49.5 16.7 3
2002 872 56.8 15.4 2.4
2003 872 56.8 15.4 2.4
2004 891 52.7 16.9 2.7
2005 914 55.5 16.5 2.8
2006 935 59.0 15.8 3
2007 933 65.0 14.4 3.2
2008 916 49.5 18.5 2.8
2009 901 46.4 19.4 2.8
2010 912 41.4 22.0 2.2
2011 882 46.9 18.8 1.8
2012 894 52.6 16.9 2
2013 905 50.7 17.8 3.4
2014 919 48.1 19.1 3.3
2015 922 50.0 18.4 2.6
2016 928 52.0 17.8 1.7
2017 965 48.1 20.0 1.8
2018 1025 52.5 19.5 1.8
2019 996 55.5 17.9 1.4
2020 1047 59.5 17.5 1.6
2021 1016 62.0 16.3 n/a
2022 1024 61.0 16.7 1.7
2023 1023 60.5 16.9 3.5

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 Kent Gardens Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 536 29.0 18.4 n/a
1990 514 29.7 17.3 n/a
1991 503 31.3 16.0 n/a
1992 517 31.9 16.2 n/a
1993 495 29.7 16.7 n/a
1994 477 28.7 n/a 0.6
1995 563 n/a 0.0 2
1996 563 n/a 0.0 2
1997 628 n/a 0.0 2.9
1998 653 n/a 0.0 1.1
1999 721 43.0 16.8 3.6
2000 773 n/a 0.0 2.7
2001 826 49.5 16.7 3
2002 872 56.8 15.4 2.4
2003 872 56.8 15.4 2.4
2004 891 52.7 16.9 2.7
2005 914 55.5 16.5 2.8
2006 935 59.0 15.8 3
2007 933 65.0 14.4 3.2
2008 916 49.5 18.5 2.8
2009 901 46.4 19.4 2.8
2010 912 41.4 22.0 2.2
2011 882 46.9 18.8 1.8
2012 894 52.6 16.9 2
2013 905 50.7 17.8 3.4
2014 919 48.1 19.1 3.3
2015 922 50.0 18.4 2.6
2016 928 52.0 17.8 1.7
2017 965 48.1 20.0 1.8
2018 1025 52.5 19.5 1.8
2019 996 55.5 17.9 1.4
2020 1047 59.5 17.5 1.6
2021 1016 62.0 16.3 n/a
2022 1024 61.0 16.7 1.7
2023 1023 60.5 16.9 3.5

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 Kent Gardens Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $183 (2.3%) $7,701 (97.7%) $7,885
2020 $164 (2.0%) $8,019 (98.0%) $8,183
2021 $194 (2.3%) $8,332 (97.7%) $8,526

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Kent Gardens 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 83rd of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 21st of 1114 Elementary schools
 5.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kent Gardens Elementary)9793.8
 3.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8571.3
 13.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Kent Gardens Elementary)8992.2
 3.2%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)7269.6
 2.4%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kent Gardens Elementary)9894.9
 3.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8673.8
 12.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Kent Gardens Elementary)9192.8
 1.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)7776.3
 0.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kent Gardens Elementary)8682.5
 3.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)7763
 14%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Kent Gardens Elementary)8889.5
 1.5%
   5th Grade Science (Fairfax County Public Schools)8170.7
 10.3%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Kent Gardens Elementary)9395.4
 2.4%
   5th Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)8075.6
 4.4%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Kent Gardens Elementary)9895.4
 2.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8765.2
 21.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7857.8
 20.2%
6th Grade English Reading (Kent Gardens Elementary)9594.6
 0.4%
   6th Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)8378.5
 4.5%
   6th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7770.4
 6.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Kent Gardens Elementary)100100
   7th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8669
 17%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7855
 23%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students9961023
 2.7%
African American2929
American Indian00
Asian197267
 35.5%
Hispanic7483
 12.2%
Pacific Islander40
 100%
White619550
 11.1%
Two or More Races7394
 28.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients1.4%3.5%
 2.1%


Schools Near Kent Gardens Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Kent Gardens Elementary

Students who attend Kent Gardens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Longfellow Middle
High : McLean High

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,023 students attended Kent Gardens Elementary.

Yes! Kent Gardens Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 23rd of 1114 Virginia elementary schools.

Students at Kent Gardens Elementary are 54% White, 26% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 3% African American.


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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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