Enrollment
639
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ashburn, VA
Discovery Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510225002955
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Elementary earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #2 of 16
- schools in Ashburn · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 26.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Elementary has class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary ranks #2 of 16 schools in Ashburn, VA.
School address
District: Loudoun County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510225002955 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
51.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.5:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.6%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Discovery Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Discovery Elementary
Discovery Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Ashburn, Virginia, enrolling 639 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.6% of students eligible for free meals.
With 639 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 336 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #54.
Its student body is led by White (32%) and Asian (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 77/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 291 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
12.4% 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 Ashburn's public schools, it stands alongside Rock Ridge High (1,599 students): Discovery Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.5:1 vs 16.2:1).
Loudoun County Public Schools also operates Independence High (2,166 students) and Lightridge High (2,030 students) alongside Discovery 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 Discovery Elementary compares
Discovery 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 | 12.5:1 | ▼ 10% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.6% | ▼ 54% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 639 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
639
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% 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
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 28% in Virginia - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
12.4%
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
Counselors2.2 FTE
Per 290 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 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
White 31.8%
Asian 26.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.1%
African American 14.2%
Two or More 9.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 31.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.2, Discovery 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 Discovery 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 Discovery Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lightridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freedom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Briar Woods High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Champe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery 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 Ashburn
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Rock Ridge High
Standard public school
1,599 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Madison's Trust Elementary
Standard public school
1,004 students 17:1 students per teacher
Moorefield Station Elementary
Standard public school
963 students 15:1 students per teacher
Creighton's Corner Elementary
Standard public school
824 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Rosa Lee Carter Elementary
Standard public school
792 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Steuart W. Weller Elementary
Standard public school
710 students 15.8:1 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 (~639 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Discovery Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Discovery 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 Discovery Elementary
How many students attend Discovery Elementary?
Discovery Elementary has 639 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ashburn, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary is 12.5:1, which is 10% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 20% 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 Discovery Elementary?
26.6% of students at Discovery Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Elementary is White at 31.8% of enrollment, in Ashburn, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Elementary?
Discovery Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (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 Discovery Elementary rank among schools in Ashburn?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary ranks #2 of 16 schools in Ashburn, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Ashburn on the city page.
Is Discovery Elementary a good school?
Discovery Elementary earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Discovery 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.