- Enrollment
- 1,325
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Christiansburg, VA
Falling Branch Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Falling Branch Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510252000178
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Falling Branch Elementary earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Virginia schools.
- #1 of 5
- public schools in Christiansburg · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.4:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 47.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Falling Branch Elementary has class sizes smaller than 73% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Falling Branch Elementary ranks #1 of 5 public schools in Christiansburg, VA.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510252000178 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Falling Branch Elementary held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 43.8 → 44.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 510252000178 · Christiansburg, VA Other · MID · TRAD
535 enr · 12.4:1 · 47.4% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Blacksburg High (1,325 students)
Falling Branch Elementary held near 569 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE held 43.8 → 44.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Falling Branch Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Blacksburg Hig
Blacksburg High
1,325 students
- Christiansburg
Christiansburg High
1,072 students
- Blacksburg Mid
Blacksburg Middle
958 students
- Christiansburg
Christiansburg Middle
778 students
- Auburn Element
Auburn Elementary
544 students
- This school
Falling Branch Elementary
535 students
What this shows Falling Branch Elementary reports 535 students on the CCD universe file.
How Falling Branch Elementary compares
Falling Branch 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 | 12.4:1 | ▼ 11% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.4% | ▼ 18% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 535 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
535
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 27% in Virginia - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
16.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,114
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
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 268 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%
Two or More 7.7%
African American 6.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 73.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.4, Falling Branch Elementary is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montgomery County Public Schools reports $14,114 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Falling Branch Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Christiansburg High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blacksburg Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Christiansburg Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Auburn Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Falling Branch Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,072
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 958
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 778
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 544
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar other schools in Christiansburg
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~535 students)
Frequently asked questions about Falling Branch Elementary
How many students attend Falling Branch Elementary?
Falling Branch Elementary has 535 students enrolled. It is a public school in Christiansburg, VA. CCD year-over-year: 576 (2022-23) → 569 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Falling Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Falling Branch Elementary is 12.4:1, which is 11% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 21% 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 Falling Branch Elementary?
47.4% of students at Falling Branch Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Falling Branch Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Falling Branch Elementary is White at 73.6% of enrollment, in Christiansburg, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Falling Branch Elementary?
Falling Branch Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (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 Falling Branch Elementary rank among public schools in Christiansburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Falling Branch Elementary ranks #1 of 5 public schools in Christiansburg, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Christiansburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Falling Branch Elementary, Montgomery County Public Schools also operates Blacksburg High (1,325 students), Christiansburg High (1,072 students), and Blacksburg Middle (958 students). See the Montgomery County Public Schools district page for the complete list.