Enrollment
606
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chester, VA
C.C. Wells Elementary
Federal NCES profile for C.C. Wells Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510084000319
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
C.C. Wells Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Virginia schools.
- #4 of 7
- schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 40.4%
- free-lunch eligible
C.C. Wells Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, C.C. Wells Elementary ranks #4 of 7 schools in Chester, VA.
School address
District: Chesterfield County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510084000319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
40.4%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How C.C. Wells Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at C.C. Wells Elementary
C.C. Wells Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Chester, Virginia, enrolling 606 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 40.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 606 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 279 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #112.
Its student body is led by African American (41%) and White (33%) (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 303 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
16.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Chester's public schools, it stands alongside C.E. Curtis Elementary (767 students): C.C. Wells Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.5:1 vs 15.3:1).
Chesterfield County Public Schools also operates Thomas Dale High (2,582 students) and Cosby High (2,507 students) alongside C.C. Wells 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 C.C. Wells Elementary compares
C.C. Wells 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 12% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.4% | ▼ 30% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 606 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
606
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
40.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 76% in Virginia - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,207
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 303 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
25
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 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
African American 41.1%
White 33.2%
Hispanic or Latino 14.0%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 41.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.2, C.C. Wells Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chesterfield County Public Schools, which includes C.C. Wells Elementary.
$12,207
Per student
-17%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.8%
State 47.1%
Federal 10.1%
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 C.C. Wells Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Dale High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cosby High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manchester High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lloyd C. Bird High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Midlothian High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to C.C. Wells Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,582
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,507
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 2,236
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,131
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,048
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Chester
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
C.E. Curtis Elementary
Standard public school
767 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Ecoff Elementary
Standard public school
764 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Elizabeth Scott Elementary
Standard public school
729 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Enon Elementary
Standard public school
691 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Harrowgate Elementary
Standard public school
486 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy
Standard public school
326 students 8.8:1 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 (~606 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on C.C. Wells Elementary's federal record.
- Compare C.C. Wells Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Chesterfield 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 C.C. Wells Elementary
How many students attend C.C. Wells Elementary?
C.C. Wells Elementary has 606 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chester, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at C.C. Wells Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at C.C. Wells Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 12% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at C.C. Wells Elementary?
40.4% of students at C.C. Wells Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of C.C. Wells Elementary?
The largest demographic group at C.C. Wells Elementary is African American at 41.1% of enrollment, in Chester, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for C.C. Wells Elementary?
C.C. Wells Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 C.C. Wells Elementary rank among schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, C.C. Wells Elementary ranks #4 of 7 schools in Chester, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Chester on the city page.
Is C.C. Wells Elementary a good school?
C.C. Wells Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% 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 Chesterfield County Public Schools?
Besides C.C. Wells Elementary, Chesterfield County Public Schools also operates Thomas Dale High (2,582 students), Cosby High (2,507 students), and Manchester High (2,236 students). See the Chesterfield 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.