- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Staunton, VA
Bessie Weller Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bessie Weller Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 510369001604
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bessie Weller Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Virginia schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Staunton · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 98.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Bessie Weller Elementary has class sizes smaller than 73% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bessie Weller Elementary ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Staunton, VA.
School address
District: Staunton City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510369001604 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Bessie Weller Elementary held near 377 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 30.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 510369001604 · Staunton, VA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
373 enr · 12.4:1 · 98.9% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Staunton High (766 students)
Bessie Weller Elementary held near 377 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 30.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Bessie Weller Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Staunton High
Staunton High
766 students
- Shelburne Midd
Shelburne Middle
583 students
- Thomas C. Mcsw
Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary
449 students
- This school
Bessie Weller Elementary
373 students
- Arthur R. Ware
Arthur R. Ware Elementary
372 students
- Staunton City 149
Staunton City School Preschool Programs
149 students
What this shows Bessie Weller Elementary reports 373 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bessie Weller Elementary compares
Bessie Weller Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 11% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.9% | ▲ 72% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 373 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
373
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 27% in Virginia - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
24.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,422
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 373 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 54.4%
Two or More 16.6%
African American 14.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Asian 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 54.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, Bessie Weller Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Staunton City Public Schools reports $16,422 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bessie Weller Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelburne Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Arthur R. Ware Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Staunton City School Preschool Programs | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Bessie Weller Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 449
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 372
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 149
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar elementary schools in Staunton
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~373 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bessie Weller Elementary
How many students attend Bessie Weller Elementary?
Bessie Weller Elementary has 373 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Staunton, VA. CCD year-over-year: 369 (2022-23) → 377 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessie Weller Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessie Weller Elementary is 12.4:1, which is 11% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 21% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bessie Weller Elementary?
98.9% of students at Bessie Weller Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bessie Weller Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bessie Weller Elementary is White at 54.4% of enrollment, in Staunton, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bessie Weller Elementary?
Bessie Weller Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bessie Weller Elementary rank among elementary schools in Staunton?
By Resource Investment Index, Bessie Weller Elementary ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Staunton, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Staunton on the city page.
What other schools are in Staunton City Public Schools?
Besides Bessie Weller Elementary, Staunton City Public Schools also operates Staunton High (766 students), Shelburne Middle (583 students), and Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary (449 students). See the Staunton City Public Schools district page for the complete list.