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Cardinal Elementary School

1644 N. Mckinley Road
Arlington, VA 22205

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Top 10%

Tel: (703) 228-5280

cardinal.apsva.us

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Serving 682 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 15:1 is higher than the Virginia state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Virginia state average of 56% (majority Black).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 682 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 27%
: Top 10% in VA
: 92% (Top 5%)
: 83% (Top 20%)
: 80-84% (Top 5%)
: McKinley Elementary serves the west part of Arlington, VA, covering an area of approximately 1.1 square miles. The typical drive to the school from within the zone takes about 5-10 minutes, with the furthest edge of the zone located 1.5 miles away.
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 682 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 47 teachers has grown by 17% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(Supplemental Virtual)

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Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Cardinal Elementary School
Kind	80
1	116
2	136
3	124
4	111
5	115

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Total Students

682 students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2025	682
2024	714
2023	704
2022	658
2021	682
2020	783
2019	791
2018	800
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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Total Classroom Teachers

47 teachers

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2025	47
2024	46
2023	67
2022	35
2021	40
2020	48
2019	45
2018	49
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
1987	17

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School Calendar

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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 0.45, 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

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
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
2011	#57
2010	#71

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92%

68%

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (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%

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Showing 2011–2021. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (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

15:1

14:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	15:1	14:1
2024	16:1	14:1
2023	11:1	14:1	12:1
2022	19:1	14:1	15:1
2021	17:1	14:1	14:1
2020	16:1	15:1	15:1
2019	18:1	15:1	15:1
2018	16:1	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	12:1	15:1	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	14:1	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	15:1	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
1987	19:1	19:1	18:1

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Asian

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1993-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	4%	8%
2024	4%	8%
2023	3%	7%	9%
2022	5%	7%	9%
2021	5%	8%	9%
2020	5%	7%	10%
2019	5%	7%	10%
2018	5%	7%	10%
2017	4%	7%	10%
2016	5%	7%	10%
2015	5%	7%	9%
2014	6%	7%	9%
2013	5%	6%	10%
2012	5%	6%	10%
2011	6%	6%	11%
2010	7%	6%	12%
2009	8%	6%	12%
2008	7%	6%	12%
2007	7%	6%	12%
2006	7%	5%	11%
2005	6%	5%	11%
2004	6%	5%	11%
2003	6%	5%	11%
2002	9%	4%	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

11%

20%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1993-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	11%	20%
2024	8%	19%
2023	7%	19%	30%
2022	7%	18%	29%
2021	8%	18%	29%
2020	8%	17%	28%
2019	9%	16%	28%
2018	11%	16%	29%
2017	10%	15%	29%
2016	10%	14%	29%
2015	11%	14%	29%
2014	12%	13%	29%
2013	12%	13%	29%
2012	10%	12%	29%
2011	11%	12%	30%
2010	9%	10%	27%
2009	9%	10%	28%
2008	6%	9%	27%
2007	8%	8%	28%
2006	11%	8%	30%
2005	13%	7%	32%
2004	13%	7%	33%
2003	16%	6%	34%
2002	16%	6%	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

21%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1993-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	2%	21%
2024	3%	22%
2023	4%	22%	11%
2022	5%	22%	11%
2021	4%	22%	10%
2020	4%	22%	10%
2019	4%	22%	10%
2018	4%	22%	10%
2017	4%	23%	10%
2016	2%	23%	10%
2015	3%	23%	11%
2014	3%	23%	11%
2013	4%	23%	11%
2012	4%	24%	11%
2011	3%	24%	11%
2010	4%	26%	13%
2009	4%	26%	13%
2008	5%	26%	14%
2007	5%	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

73%

44%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1993-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	73%	44%
2024	75%	44%
2023	76%	45%	43%
2022	73%	46%	43%
2021	72%	46%	44%
2020	72%	48%	46%
2019	72%	49%	46%
2018	70%	49%	46%
2017	72%	50%	46%
2016	74%	51%	46%
2015	73%	51%	46%
2014	71%	52%	46%
2013	71%	53%	46%
2012	74%	54%	45%
2011	74%	54%	44%
2010	80%	57%	48%
2009	79%	57%	47%
2008	82%	58%	47%
2007	80%	58%	46%
2006	76%	59%	45%
2005	75%	60%	43%
2004	74%	61%	42%
2003	73%	62%	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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Two or more races

10%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2011-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	10%	7%
2024	10%	7%
2023	10%	7%	7%
2022	10%	7%	8%
2021	11%	6%	8%
2020	11%	6%	6%
2019	10%	6%	6%
2018	10%	6%	5%
2017	10%	5%	5%
2016	9%	5%	5%
2015	8%	5%	5%
2014	8%	5%	5%
2013	8%	5%	4%
2012	7%	4%	5%
2011	6%	4%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

27%

56%

0.45

0.72

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1993-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	0.45	0.72
2024	0.42	0.72
2023	0.41	0.71	0.71
2022	0.45	0.70	0.71
2021	0.46	0.70	0.70
2020	0.46	0.69	0.69
2019	0.46	0.68	0.69
2018	0.49	0.68	0.69
2017	0.46	0.67	0.69
2016	0.44	0.67	0.69
2015	0.45	0.67	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	0.60	0.67
2009	0.36	0.60	0.67
2008	0.32	0.59	0.68
2007	0.35	0.59	0.68
2006	0.41	0.58	0.68
2005	0.42	0.57	0.69
2004	0.43	0.55	0.69
2003	0.44	0.54	0.69
2002	0.48	0.53	0.69
2001	0.52	0.52	0.69
2000	0.49	0.51	0.69
1999	0.49	0.51	0.70
1998	0.51	0.51	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	0.41	0.47	0.69

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(22-23)

2.4%

19.1%

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Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2023	2.4%	19.1%	13.5%
2022	1.2%	20%	9.4%
2021	1%	10.9%	4.6%

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Eligible for

57%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	5%	57%
2024	5%	55%
2023	6%	52%	27%
2022	9%	41%	23%
2021	7%	35%	23%
2020	8%	40%	23%
2019	5%	39%	23%
2018	7%	38%	24%
2017	7%	35%	24%
2016	5%	35%	24%
2015	7%	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%
1995	13%	24%	33%
1994	17%	21%	28%

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Eligible for

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Virginia	Arlington County School District
2025	1%	2%
2023	1%	2%	3%
2022	1%	5%	6%
2021	1%	6%	6%
2020	1%	5%	6%
2019	2%	5%	6%
2018	1%	5%	5%
2017	1%	6%	5%
2016	1%	6%	5%
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%
1999	5%	6%	8%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Arlington County School District

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

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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?

682 students attend Cardinal Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

73% of Cardinal Elementary School students are White, 11% of students are Hispanic, 10% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Asian, and 2% of students are Black.

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

Cardinal Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, 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.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 682 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 27%
: Top 10%
: 92% (Top 5%)
: 83% (Top 20%)
: 80-84% (Top 5%)
: McKinley Elementary serves the west part of Arlington, VA, covering an area of approximately 1.1 square miles. The typical drive to the school from within the zone takes about 5-10 minutes, with the furthest edge of the zone located 1.5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

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