James River Elementary School
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: (757) 887-1768
District: Williamsburg-James City Public Schools
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 449 students
James River Elementary School, a public school located in Williamsburg, VA, serves grades K-5 in the Williamsburg-James City Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
James River Elementary School is a public school located in Williamsburg, VA. 449 students attend James River Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 4/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning data from Virginia Department of Education, and using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course data from Virginia Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 3/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Virginia Department of Education. |
Posted: April 5, 2022
I loved all my teachers at this school since I was in kindergarten!
Posted: April 5, 2022
Posted: April 5, 2022
Posted: April 5, 2022
Posted: April 5, 2022
Posted: April 5, 2022
Posted: April 5, 2022
Posted: December 19, 2016
It is an amazing group of administrators including the principal and assistant principal that is truly leading the school.
Posted: December 19, 2016
This is an IB school and that is exactly what this school is about.
Posted: December 19, 2016
My daughter is really excelling this year and is very happy! She loves all the teachers and staff.
Posted: December 19, 2016
It is not overwhelming and it is to their current tasks or review.
Posted: December 19, 2016
James River Elementary School is an amazing school that gives kids a really hands up in the world. It believes in not only education but culture and character. My daughter loves this school and as a parent, so do I.
Posted: March 7, 2012
We are a proud Dolphin family who feel blessed to belong to the JR community of learners. Only on our first year, we feel the entire school staff knows us so well. Pedagogy and methods are truly IB. We do not notice any of the negaive feedback noted in other reviews. Our kids respond well to their teachers and come home daily excited to share their learning. They are encouraged to be critical learners who are engaged and have a voice. The best perk of living in Williamsburg - James City.
Posted: August 10, 2011
We were new to JRE last year and absolutely fell in love with the school! The teachers are wondeful, the administration is warm, friendly and helpful. The parents are 200% more involved than the previous school my child went to. We LOVE the IB program. It just teaches our children how to be so well-rounded, internationally focused and excellent citizens and community members. The IB program is such a great way to teach...we were definitely impressed. We also love the uniforms. It really levels the playing field and provides for a nice learning atmosphere with few distractions. This is 1 famiy that HIGHLY RECOMMENDS JRE!!!
Posted: July 23, 2011
The school of the Haves and the Haves Nots...and not much in the middle. Not ideal socially. The teachers are great however, the school nurse and the other staff members but there needs to be improved communication with the higher staff in command. I worked here and was a parent as well...we moved and were happy to go. Sorry!
Posted: June 14, 2011
We love JRE. We transferred from the "top" school in the area, where one of my children's teachers was completely unresponsive, cold and totally uncaring and where the "popular" administration was selective in what they enforced and what was addressed. The principal at JRE is caring, talented and manages situations effectively and productively. Both of my children have wonderful teachers, each with different strengths and both highly experienced. The IB program is great and creates better citizens (not just emotionless test takers). Having transferred from the "fancy" school, I appreciate the uniforms and the lack of material distraction. The Spanish program is unique among the public schools in the area, and the Spanish instructor is the most involved, personable, invested person I've met. The school takes a lot of criticism based on its location, but having experienced less than enthusiastic security at the other local elementary, I feel much more secure at JRE, and have seen examples all year of dedication to preserving the security of the school The campus isn't as fancy as the 2 new schools, but it is a great and loving learning environment.
Posted: October 18, 2010
I think the uniform code gives them the sophistication that they desire but once you are in the school you will see it is all a show. The staff talks to the kids in really harsh tones especially in the lunch room when things should be more relaxed. I have had my son go into ABC for things that no one saw happen. They are just dealing with the aftermath of situations. There is simply not enough eyes on the kids. They do not have the kids best interest in mind as recess is being taken away from them. The teachers higher than K do not communicate to the parents about what the plan for the week is. I had hope with the extra things James River offers it would be a much better school. I am very disappointed.
Posted: May 4, 2010
The teachers and the office staff are always friendly and helpful.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsmill | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Williamsburg | VA | 4.3 mi | |
| 2 | Denbigh | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Newport News | VA | 4.8 mi | |
| 3 | Stoneybrook Estates | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Newport News | VA | 5.3 mi | |
| 4 | Morgan's Trace | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Newport News | VA | 6 mi | |
| 5 | Creekside Landing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Williamsburg | VA | 6.4 mi | |
| 6 | Ford's Colony | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Williamsburg | VA | 6.5 mi | |
| 7 | Shore Park | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Newport News | VA | 7.6 mi | |
| 8 | Carriage Hills | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Newport News | VA | 7.7 mi | |
| 9 | Rosewell | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Gloucester | VA | 9 mi | |
| 10 | Brick Kiln | Apartment Complex | Newport News | VA | 9.6 mi | |
| 11 | Scots Pond | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Williamsburg | VA | 10.1 mi | |
| 12 | Tabb Lakes | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Yorktown | VA | 11.7 mi | |
| 13 | Courtney Trace | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Newport News | VA | 13.7 mi | |
| 14 | Eagle Harbor | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Carrollton | VA | 17.9 mi | |
| 15 | Fox Hill- Grandview | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Hampton | VA | 20.2 mi | |
| 16 | Riverfront at Harbour View | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Suffolk | VA | 24.5 mi | |
| 17 | Burbage Grant | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Suffolk | VA | 25.2 mi | |
| 18 | Long Point | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Portsmouth | VA | 25.3 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Eustis | Newport News | VA | 4.5 mi | |
| 2 | Yorktown Beach | Yorktown | VA | 6.3 mi | |
| 3 | Tabb | Tabb | VA | 10.6 mi | |
| 4 | Poquoson | Poquoson | VA | 15.5 mi | |
| 5 | Smithfield | Smithfield | VA | 15.6 mi | |
| 6 | Carrollton | Carrollton | VA | 18.5 mi | |
| 7 | Harbour View Area | Suffolk | VA | 24.4 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Fort Eustis | 4.1 mi. |
| Yorktown Naval Weapons Station | 4.8 mi. |
| Coast Guard Yorktown | 7.5 mi. |
| Langley AFB | 16.5 mi. |
| Fort Monroe | 22 mi. |
| Joint Staff J7 Suffolk | 24.9 mi. |
| Coast Guard Station Milford Haven | 25.7 mi. |
| Norfolk Naval Base | 26.3 mi. |
| Coast Guard Portsmouth VA | 26.6 mi. |
| Portsmouth Naval Medical Center | 30.3 mi. |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 32.3 mi. |
| Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base | 32.8 mi. |
| Fort Story | 39.1 mi. |
| Fort Lee | 39.4 mi. |
| Oceana NAS | 42.5 mi. |
| Dam Neck Naval Station | 46.7 mi. |
| Defense Supply Center Richmond | 47.4 mi. |
| NSA Northwest Annex | 48.8 mi. |
