J. B. Watkins Elementary School opened in the fall of 1966, situated on a large, wooded tract on Coalfield Road in the then-rural village of Midlothian, Virginia.

The school proudly bears the name of John Benjamin Watkins (1855–1931), the founder of Watkins Nursery and a dedicated public servant. Mr. Watkins served on the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors and represented the 35th District in the Virginia Senate from 1904 to 1912, and again from 1927 until his death. He was also a devoted member and later Rector of the Board of Visitors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (V.P.I.) for over twenty years.

As Midlothian transitioned into a developing suburban area, our student population grew alongside it. By the early 1980s, J. B. Watkins was the largest elementary school in the Richmond metropolitan area and one of the largest in Virginia. Today, we continue to thrive as a large, dynamic school community, with a projected enrollment of 1,000 students in Early Childhood Special Education classes through fifth grade for the 2026–27 school year.

To support our growing community and maintain a high-quality learning environment, our campus has seen numerous expansions and updates over the decades:

• 1970: Added a six-room, air-conditioned round building for kindergarten.

• 1978: Completed a sixteen-room addition to the original building.

• 1987: Opened a renovated library and a brand-new gymnasium.

• 1992: Fully renovated and air-conditioned the original 1966 building.

• 2002: Installed a comprehensive computer network and infrastructure.

• 2012–2013: Completed a bond-funded renovation that added a modernized office and clinic, eight new classrooms, and dedicated music and art rooms.

J. B. Watkins has proudly maintained full academic accreditation since 2002, reflecting our unwavering commitment to educational excellence.

To further support our students, we introduced a gem-themed house system in the fall of 2025. This system is designed to foster a strong sense of community, belonging, and positive school culture. By connecting students across different grade levels, the house system creates meaningful opportunities for staff and teachers to engage with students beyond academics, building the relationships necessary for a truly thriving school environment.