Enrollment
537
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Springfield, VA
Forestdale Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Forestdale Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510126000472
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forestdale Elementary earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Virginia schools.
- #12 of 18
- schools in Springfield · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.2:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 63.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Forestdale Elementary has class sizes smaller than 76% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forestdale Elementary ranks #12 of 18 schools in Springfield, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126000472 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.2:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.1%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+10% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Forestdale Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Forestdale Elementary
Forestdale Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Springfield, Virginia, enrolling 537 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 63.1% lands close to the Virginia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 537 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 215 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #82.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (46%) and White (20%) (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 269 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Fairfax County Public Schools spends $17,977 per pupil, 23% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Springfield's public schools, it stands alongside Sangster Elementary (928 students): Forestdale Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.2:1 vs 17.8:1).
Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students) and Robinson Secondary (3,710 students) alongside Forestdale 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 Forestdale Elementary compares
Forestdale 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 | 12.2:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.1% | ▲ 10% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 537 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
537
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 24% in Virginia - lower ratio than 76% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
25.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,977
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 269 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 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
Hispanic or Latino 46.0%
White 20.1%
Asian 17.3%
African American 11.2%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.3, Forestdale Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fairfax County Public Schools, which includes Forestdale Elementary.
$17,977
Per student
+23%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 66.6%
State 23.3%
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 Forestdale Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forestdale Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,411
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- 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
Cardinal Forest Elementary
Standard public school
680 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Kings Park Elementary
Standard public school
653 students 14.5:1 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 (~537 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Forestdale Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Forestdale Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Fairfax 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 Forestdale Elementary
How many students attend Forestdale Elementary?
Forestdale Elementary has 537 students enrolled. It is a public school in Springfield, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forestdale Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Forestdale Elementary is 12.2:1, which is 12% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 22% 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 Forestdale Elementary?
63.1% of students at Forestdale Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forestdale Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Forestdale Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 46.0% of enrollment, in Springfield, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forestdale Elementary?
Forestdale Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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 Forestdale Elementary rank among schools in Springfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Forestdale Elementary ranks #12 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.
Is Forestdale Elementary a good school?
Forestdale Elementary earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller 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 Fairfax County Public Schools?
Besides Forestdale 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.
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.