- Enrollment
- 3,044
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Arlington, VA
Cardinal Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cardinal Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 64/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510027000101
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 97
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cardinal Elementary earns 64/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 93% of Virginia schools.
- #3 of 26
- schools in Arlington · Resource Index
- 64
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.3:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 5.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cardinal Elementary has class sizes smaller than 93% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Elementary ranks #3 of 26 schools in Arlington, VA.
School address
District: Arlington County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510027000101 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Cardinal Elementary held near 714 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 66.5 → 45.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 510027000101 · Arlington, VA Other · MID · TRAD
682 enr · 10.3:1 · 5.8% lunch · RII 64
Nearest enrollment peer: Washington-Liberty High (3,044 students)
Cardinal Elementary held near 714 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 66.5 → 45.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Cardinal Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Washington-Lib
Washington-Liberty High
3,044 students
- Wakefield High
Wakefield High
2,646 students
- Yorktown High
Yorktown High
2,593 students
- Jefferson Midd 1,120
Jefferson Middle
1,120 students
- Gunston Middle 1,072
Gunston Middle
1,072 students
- This school 682
Cardinal Elementary
682 students
What this shows Cardinal Elementary reports 682 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cardinal Elementary compares
Cardinal 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 | 10.3:1 | ▼ 26% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.8% | ▼ 90% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 682 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.3:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
682
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% 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
10.3:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 7% in Virginia - lower ratio than 93% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
1.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$23,424
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 341 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.
Student demographics
White 72.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.6%
Two or More 10.3%
Asian 4.0%
African American 2.5%
Largest group: White at 72.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.7, Cardinal Elementary is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Arlington County Public Schools reports $23,424 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cardinal Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Liberty High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wakefield High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Yorktown High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gunston Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cardinal Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,646
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,593
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 1,120
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 1,072
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
Similar other schools in Arlington
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Abingdon Elementary
Standard public school
768 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Oakridge Elementary
Standard public school
636 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Arlington Science Focus School
Standard public school
632 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Alice West Fleet Elementary
Standard public school
629 students 9.3:1 students per teacher
Arlington Traditional
Standard public school
624 students 13:1 students per teacher
Claremont Immersion
Standard public school
595 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~682 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Elementary
How many students attend Cardinal Elementary?
Cardinal Elementary has 682 students enrolled. It is a public school in Arlington, VA. CCD year-over-year: 704 (2022-23) → 714 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Elementary is 10.3:1, which is 26% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 34% 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 Cardinal Elementary?
5.8% of students at Cardinal Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cardinal Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cardinal Elementary is White at 72.7% of enrollment, in Arlington, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cardinal Elementary?
Cardinal Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 64/100 (higher 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 Cardinal Elementary rank among schools in Arlington?
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Elementary ranks #3 of 26 schools in Arlington, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Arlington on the city page.
What other schools are in Arlington County Public Schools?
Besides Cardinal Elementary, Arlington County Public Schools also operates Washington-Liberty High (3,044 students), Wakefield High (2,646 students), and Yorktown High (2,593 students). See the Arlington County Public Schools district page for the complete list.