Charles Barrett Elementary

Charles Barrett Elementary is a K-5 school of mid-tier scale in Alexandria, Virginia, part of Alexandria City Public Schools, hosting 547 students in grades pre-K through 5.

Charles Barrett Elementary is one of 18 schools operated by Alexandria City Public Schools, a district that enrolls 16,575 students overall.

On demographics, Charles Barrett Elementary shows that the most-represented group is Hispanic (50%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups; the rest is composed of 35% White, 10% Black, 3% multiracial. By comparison, Alexandria city as a whole is about 18% Hispanic, so the school skews meaningfully more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Charles Barrett Elementary has 38 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.4:1. The state averages about 13.8:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Roughly 51% of students at Charles Barrett Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is noticeably below Alexandria city's rate of about 69%.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Charles Barrett Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 74.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 67.6%.

Zooming out to the county, community-level numbers for Alexandria city indicate median household earnings sit near $119,681, 66% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Alexandria city's 20 public schools (combined enrollment of about 16,575 students), Charles Barrett Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Gunston Middle, around 0.6 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Charles Barrett Elementary ranks 4th on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 63.1%.

The campus sits in a city-core setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Charles Barrett Elementary has edged up 9%, going from 503 students in 2018 to 547 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share edged up from 27% to 50%.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.