Cardinal Elementary School (Ranked Top 10% for 2025)

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Cardinal Elementary School

1644 N. Mckinley Road
Arlington, VA 22205

( shown in map)

10/

Top 10%

Serving 714 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Cardinal Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Virginia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 5%, and reading proficiency is top 5%).

The percentage of students achieving is 92% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 83% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 69%).

The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Virginia state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Virginia state average of 56% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 714 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 25%
: Top 10% in VA
: 92% (Top 5%)
: 83% (Top 20%)
: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Cardinal Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Virginia for:

School Overview

Cardinal Elementary School's student population of 714 students has declined by 9% over five school years.

The teacher population of 46 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(Supplemental Virtual)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Cardinal Elementary School
Kind	108
1	131
2	120
3	110
4	114
5	131

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Total Students

714 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2023	704
2022	658
2021	682
2020	791
2019	791
2018	726
2017	726
2016	604
2015	581
2014	536
2013	556
2012	504
2011	491
2010	436
2009	420
2008	415
2007	389
2006	382
2005	413
2004	396
2003	402
2002	405
2001	397
2000	365
1999	330
1998	336
1997	353
1996	340
1995	334
1994	345
1993	368
1992	327
1991	319
1990	385
1989	329
1988	341
1987	318

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

46 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2023	67
2022	35
2021	40
2020	45
2019	45
2018	43
2017	43
2016	40
2015	43
2014	43
2013	43
2012	38
2011	28
2010	26
2009	29
2008	27
2007	31
2006	32
2005	29
2004	31
2003	37
2002	30
2001	31
1999	34
1994	25
1993	25
1992	22
1991	22
1990	26
1989	23
1988	25

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School Rankings

Cardinal Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,773 schools in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Cardinal Elementary School is 0.42, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.72. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (VA)

#115 out of 1773 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2023	#115
2022	#217
2021	#217
2019	#153
2018	#21
2017	#17
2016	#5
2015	#30
2014	#94
2013	#76
2012	#230

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92%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	92%	68%	76%
2021	77%	54%	65%
2019	94%	82%	87%
2017	96%	72%	77%
2016	96%	80%	86%
2015	93%	79%	86%
2014	90%	74%	82%
2013	88%	71%	80%
2012	88%	68%	79%
2011	97%	86%	87%
2010	97%	87%	86%

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(20-21)

83%

69%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2021)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2021	83%	69%	77%
2019	90%	78%	83%
2018	94%	80%
2017	95%	80%	86%
2016	98%	80%	86%
2015	96%	79%	86%
2014	90%	74%	81%
2013	91%	74%	80%
2012	93%	89%	89%
2011	96%	88%	90%
2010	96%	89%	90%

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(20-21)

80-84%

59%

Student : Teacher Ratio

16:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	11:1	14:1	12:1
2022	19:1	14:1	15:1
2021	17:1	14:1	14:1
2020	18:1	15:1	15:1
2019	18:1	15:1	15:1
2018	17:1	15:1	14:1
2017	17:1	15:1	14:1
2016	15:1	15:1	14:1
2015	14:1	15:1	14:1
2014	13:1	16:1	13:1
2013	13:1	16:1	13:1
2012	13:1	15:1	15:1
2011	18:1	17:1	18:1
2010	17:1	17:1	15:1
2009	15:1	17:1	15:1
2008	15:1	17:1	15:1
2007	13:1	13:1	11:1
2006	12:1	13:1	12:1
2005	14:1	14:1	12:1
2004	13:1	13:1	12:1
2003	11:1	12:1	9:1
2002	14:1	13:1	12:1
2001	13:1	14:1	13:1
1999	10:1	15:1	12:1
1994	14:1	17:1	12:1
1993	14:1	16:1	14:1
1992	15:1	16:1	15:1
1991	15:1	16:1	15:1
1990	15:1	16:1	15:1
1989	14:1	16:1	15:1
1988	14:1	17:1	16:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	3%	7%	9%
2022	5%	7%	9%
2021	5%	8%	9%
2020	5%	7%	10%
2019	5%	7%	10%
2018	4%	7%	10%
2017	4%	7%	10%
2016	5%	8%	10%
2015	6%	6%	9%
2014	6%	7%	9%
2013	5%	7%	10%
2012	5%	6%	10%
2011	7%	7%	11%
2010	8%	7%	12%
2009	8%	7%	12%
2008	7%	6%	12%
2007	7%	6%	12%
2006	7%	6%	11%
2005	7%	6%	11%
2004	6%	6%	11%
2003	6%	5%	11%
2002	9%	5%	11%
2001	9%	4%	10%
2000	7%	4%	10%
1999	5%	4%	10%
1998	4%	4%	11%
1997	4%	4%	10%
1996	4%	3%	11%
1995	4%	4%	10%
1994	5%	3%	10%
1993	6%	3%	11%

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Hispanic

19%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	7%	19%	30%
2022	7%	18%	29%
2021	8%	18%	29%
2020	9%	16%	28%
2019	9%	16%	28%
2018	9%	15%	29%
2017	9%	15%	29%
2016	10%	14%	29%
2015	11%	14%	29%
2014	12%	13%	29%
2013	12%	12%	29%
2012	10%	12%	29%
2011	11%	11%	30%
2010	9%	10%	27%
2009	9%	10%	28%
2008	7%	10%	27%
2007	8%	9%	28%
2006	11%	8%	30%
2005	13%	7%	32%
2004	13%	6%	33%
2003	16%	7%	34%
2002	16%	5%	34%
2001	20%	5%	34%
2000	18%	4%	32%
1999	17%	4%	32%
1998	18%	4%	31%
1997	17%	3%	31%
1996	15%	3%	30%
1995	16%	3%	30%
1994	14%	3%	28%
1993	11%	3%	27%

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Black

22%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	4%	22%	11%
2022	5%	22%	11%
2021	4%	22%	10%
2020	4%	22%	10%
2019	4%	22%	10%
2018	3%	23%	10%
2017	3%	23%	10%
2016	2%	23%	10%
2015	2%	23%	11%
2014	3%	23%	11%
2013	4%	23%	11%
2012	4%	24%	11%
2011	2%	24%	11%
2010	3%	26%	13%
2009	5%	26%	13%
2008	4%	27%	14%
2007	6%	27%	14%
2006	6%	27%	14%
2005	6%	27%	14%
2004	7%	27%	14%
2003	5%	27%	14%
2002	5%	27%	14%
2001	5%	27%	15%
2000	6%	27%	16%
1999	9%	27%	17%
1998	11%	27%	17%
1997	8%	27%	17%
1996	7%	27%	17%
1995	5%	26%	18%
1994	4%	26%	18%
1993	7%	26%	17%

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White

75%

44%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	76%	45%	43%
2022	73%	46%	43%
2021	72%	46%	44%
2020	72%	49%	46%
2019	72%	49%	46%
2018	73%	50%	46%
2017	73%	50%	46%
2016	74%	50%	46%
2015	73%	52%	46%
2014	71%	52%	46%
2013	71%	53%	46%
2012	74%	54%	45%
2011	74%	54%	44%
2010	80%	57%	48%
2009	78%	57%	47%
2008	82%	57%	47%
2007	79%	58%	46%
2006	76%	59%	45%
2005	74%	60%	43%
2004	74%	61%	42%
2003	73%	61%	41%
2002	70%	63%	41%
2001	66%	64%	41%
2000	69%	65%	42%
1999	69%	65%	41%
1998	67%	65%	41%
1997	71%	66%	42%
1996	74%	67%	42%
1995	75%	67%	42%
1994	77%	68%	44%
1993	76%	68%	45%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

10%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	10%	7%	7%
2022	10%	7%	8%
2021	11%	6%	8%
2020	10%	6%	6%
2019	10%	6%	6%
2018	11%	5%	5%
2017	11%	5%	5%
2016	9%	5%	5%
2015	8%	5%	5%
2014	8%	5%	5%
2013	8%	5%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.42

0.72

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	0.41	0.71	0.71
2022	0.45	0.70	0.71
2021	0.46	0.70	0.70
2020	0.46	0.68	0.69
2019	0.46	0.68	0.69
2018	0.45	0.67	0.69
2017	0.45	0.67	0.69
2016	0.44	0.68	0.69
2015	0.45	0.66	0.69
2014	0.48	0.66	0.69
2013	0.48	0.65	0.69
2012	0.44	0.64	0.69
2011	0.44	0.64	0.70
2010	0.35	0.62	0.67
2009	0.38	0.60	0.67
2008	0.32	0.60	0.68
2007	0.37	0.59	0.68
2006	0.41	0.58	0.68
2005	0.43	0.57	0.69
2004	0.43	0.55	0.69
2003	0.44	0.55	0.69
2002	0.48	0.53	0.69
2001	0.52	0.52	0.69
2000	0.48	0.51	0.69
1999	0.49	0.51	0.70
1998	0.51	0.50	0.70
1997	0.46	0.49	0.70
1996	0.43	0.48	0.70
1995	0.41	0.49	0.70
1994	0.39	0.47	0.69
1993	0.40	0.47	0.69

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Eligible for

55%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	6%	52%	27%
2022	9%	41%	23%
2021	7%	35%	23%
2020	5%	39%	23%
2019	5%	39%	23%
2018	6%	35%	24%
2017	6%	35%	24%
2016	4%	35%	24%
2015	6%	34%	24%
2014	6%	33%	25%
2013	6%	32%	25%
2012	7%	32%	25%
2011	6%	31%	25%
2010	7%	29%	26%
2009	7%	26%	24%
2008	6%	25%	22%
2007	7%	24%	23%
2006	8%	24%	27%
2005	11%	24%	29%
2004	11%	23%	27%
2003	10%	23%	29%
2002	11%	23%	28%
2001	13%	21%	30%
2000	21%	23%	32%
1999	19%	24%	33%
1998	21%	24%	36%
1997	18%	24%	36%
1996	17%	24%	36%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2000-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	1%	2%	3%
2022	1%	5%	6%
2021	1%	6%	6%
2020	2%	5%	6%
2019	2%	5%	6%
2015	1%	6%	6%
2014	2%	6%	7%
2013	3%	6%	6%
2012	2%	7%	7%
2011	1%	6%	6%
2010	3%	7%	7%
2009	4%	7%	8%
2008	3%	7%	8%
2007	2%	7%	9%
2006	3%	7%	10%
2005	3%	7%	9%
2004	3%	7%	10%
2003	4%	7%	9%
2002	5%	7%	9%
2001	7%	7%	10%
2000	8%	7%	9%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Arlington County School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cardinal Elementary School's ranking?

Cardinal Elementary School is ranked #115 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Virginia.

What schools are Cardinal Elementary School often compared to?

Cardinal Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Arlington Traditional by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

92% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% VA state average), while 83% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 69% VA state average).

How many students attend Cardinal Elementary School?

714 students attend Cardinal Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

75% of Cardinal Elementary School students are White, 10% of students are Two or more races, 8% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Asian, and 3% of students are Black.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Cardinal Elementary School?

Cardinal Elementary School has a student ration of 16:1, which is higher than the Virginia state average of 14:1.

What grades does Cardinal Elementary School offer ?

Cardinal Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (Supplemental Virtual).

What school district is Cardinal Elementary School part of?

Cardinal Elementary School is part of Arlington County School District.

In what neighborhood is Cardinal Elementary School located?

Cardinal Elementary School is located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Arlington, VA.

School Reviews

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Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 714 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 25%
: Top 10%
: 92% (Top 5%)
: 83% (Top 20%)
: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education