- Enrollment
- 4,411
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Springfield, VA
Cardinal Forest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cardinal Forest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510126000442
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cardinal Forest Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Virginia schools.
- #17 of 18
- schools in Springfield · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 23.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Cardinal Forest Elementary has class sizes larger than 80% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Forest Elementary ranks #17 of 18 schools in Springfield, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126000442 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+68 students YoY
Cardinal Forest Elementary grew from 632 students in 2022-23 to 700 in 2023-24 (+10.8%).
Teacher FTE added 43.3 → 47.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+68 students YoY 510126000442 · Springfield, VA Other · MID · TRAD
680 enr · 15.8:1 · 23.4% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students)
Cardinal Forest Elementary grew from 632 students in 2022-23 to 700 in 2023-24 (+10.8%). Teacher FTE added 43.3 → 47.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Cardinal Forest Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lake Braddock
Lake Braddock Secondary
4,411 students
- Robinson Secon
Robinson Secondary
3,710 students
- Hayfield Secon
Hayfield Secondary
3,256 students
- Chantilly High
Chantilly High
2,937 students
- West Springfie
West Springfield High
2,799 students
- This school 680
Cardinal Forest Elementary
680 students
What this shows Cardinal Forest Elementary reports 680 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cardinal Forest Elementary compares
Cardinal Forest Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 14% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.4% | ▼ 59% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 680 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
680
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 80% in Virginia - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.7%
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
$18,975
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 453 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 43.1%
Hispanic or Latino 23.7%
Asian 15.3%
African American 11.8%
Two or More 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 43.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.7, Cardinal Forest Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fairfax County Public Schools reports $18,975 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cardinal Forest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cardinal Forest Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,710
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 3,256
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 2,937
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,799
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Springfield
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sangster Elementary
Standard public school
928 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Orange Hunt Elementary
Standard public school
874 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Keene Mill Elementary
Standard public school
813 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Hunt Valley Elementary
Standard public school
735 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Kings Park Elementary
Standard public school
653 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Saratoga Elementary
Standard public school
612 students 13.3:1 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 (~680 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Forest Elementary
How many students attend Cardinal Forest Elementary?
Cardinal Forest Elementary has 680 students enrolled. It is a public school in Springfield, VA. CCD year-over-year: 632 (2022-23) → 700 (2023-24), up 68.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Forest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Forest Elementary is 15.8:1, which is 14% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cardinal Forest Elementary?
23.4% of students at Cardinal Forest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cardinal Forest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cardinal Forest Elementary is White at 43.1% of enrollment, in Springfield, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cardinal Forest Elementary?
Cardinal Forest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Cardinal Forest Elementary rank among schools in Springfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Cardinal Forest Elementary ranks #17 of 18 schools in Springfield, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Springfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Fairfax County Public Schools?
Besides Cardinal Forest Elementary, Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students), Robinson Secondary (3,710 students), and Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students). See the Fairfax County Public Schools district page for the complete list.