Enrollment
756
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Aldie, VA
Buffalo Trail Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buffalo Trail Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510225002832
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buffalo Trail Elementary earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Virginia schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Aldie · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 9.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Buffalo Trail Elementary has class sizes smaller than 79% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buffalo Trail Elementary ranks #2 of 6 schools in Aldie, VA.
School address
District: Loudoun County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510225002832 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
63.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
9.3%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-84% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Buffalo Trail Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Buffalo Trail Elementary
Buffalo Trail Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Aldie, Virginia, enrolling 756 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12:1 puts it in the smaller third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 9.3% free-meal eligibility runs 84% below the Virginia average.
Enrollment of 756 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 205 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #23.
Its student body is led by Asian (47%) and White (28%) (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 270 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
11.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Loudoun County Public Schools spends $18,953 per pupil, 29% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Aldie's public schools, it stands alongside Goshen Post Elementary (851 students): Buffalo Trail Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12:1 vs 12.5:1).
Loudoun County Public Schools also operates Independence High (2,166 students) and Lightridge High (2,030 students) alongside Buffalo Trail Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Buffalo Trail Elementary compares
Buffalo Trail Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 14% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.3% | ▼ 84% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 756 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
756
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
9.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 84% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 21% in Virginia - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$18,953
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.8 FTE
Per 270 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Asian 46.8%
White 27.5%
Two or More 8.5%
African American 8.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Largest group: Asian at 46.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.6, Buffalo Trail Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Loudoun County Public Schools, which includes Buffalo Trail Elementary.
$18,953
Per student
+29%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
+14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 67.9%
State 27.1%
Federal 5.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Buffalo Trail Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lightridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freedom High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Briar Woods High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Champe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buffalo Trail Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,166
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,862
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,851
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar other schools in Aldie
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Goshen Post Elementary
Standard public school
851 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Hovatter Elementary
Standard public school
810 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Arcola Elementary
Standard public school
748 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Pinebrook Elementary
Standard public school
699 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Aldie Elementary
Standard public school
90 students 9:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~756 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Buffalo Trail Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Buffalo Trail Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Loudoun County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Trail Elementary
How many students attend Buffalo Trail Elementary?
Buffalo Trail Elementary has 756 students enrolled. It is a public school in Aldie, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Trail Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Trail Elementary is 12:1, which is 14% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 24% 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 Buffalo Trail Elementary?
9.3% of students at Buffalo Trail Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buffalo Trail Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buffalo Trail Elementary is Asian at 46.8% of enrollment, in Aldie, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buffalo Trail Elementary?
Buffalo Trail Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Buffalo Trail Elementary rank among schools in Aldie?
By Resource Investment Index, Buffalo Trail Elementary ranks #2 of 6 schools in Aldie, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Aldie on the city page.
Is Buffalo Trail Elementary a good school?
Buffalo Trail Elementary earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Virginia schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Loudoun County Public Schools?
Besides Buffalo Trail Elementary, Loudoun County Public Schools also operates Independence High (2,166 students), Lightridge High (2,030 students), and Freedom High (1,885 students). See the Loudoun County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.