Enrollment
292
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Blacksburg, VA
Gilbert Linkous Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Gilbert Linkous Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510252001023
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 83
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gilbert Linkous Elementary earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Virginia schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Blacksburg · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 22.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Gilbert Linkous Elementary has class sizes smaller than 86% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gilbert Linkous Elementary ranks #1 of 3 schools in Blacksburg, VA.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510252001023 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.2:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
22.5%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-61% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gilbert Linkous Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gilbert Linkous Elementary
Gilbert Linkous Elementary is a small combined-grade school in Blacksburg, Virginia, enrolling 292 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.2:1, Gilbert Linkous Elementary is leaner than roughly 86% of Virginia schools and 19% under the state's 13.9:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 22.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 292 puts it in the smaller third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 1,868 Virginia schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Against 46 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #8.
Its student body is led by White (68%) and Asian (15%) (diversity index 51/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 292 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Blacksburg's public schools, it stands alongside Prices Fork Elementary (457 students): Gilbert Linkous Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.2:1 vs 13.8:1).
Montgomery County Public Schools also operates Blacksburg High (1,325 students) and Christiansburg High (1,072 students) alongside Gilbert Linkous 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 Gilbert Linkous Elementary compares
Gilbert Linkous 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 | 11.2:1 | ▼ 19% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.5% | ▼ 61% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 292 | top 85% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
292
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
22.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% 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
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 14% in Virginia - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
6.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,803
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 292 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 67.5%
Asian 15.4%
Two or More 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
African American 4.8%
Largest group: White at 67.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, Gilbert Linkous Elementary is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Montgomery County Public Schools, which includes Gilbert Linkous Elementary.
$13,803
Per student
-6%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.4%
State 48.5%
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 Gilbert Linkous Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Christiansburg High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blacksburg Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Christiansburg Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Auburn Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gilbert Linkous Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,325
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- 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 Blacksburg
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~292 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gilbert Linkous Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Gilbert Linkous Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Montgomery 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 Gilbert Linkous Elementary
How many students attend Gilbert Linkous Elementary?
Gilbert Linkous Elementary has 292 students enrolled. It is a public school in Blacksburg, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gilbert Linkous Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Gilbert Linkous Elementary is 11.2:1, which is 19% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 29% 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 Gilbert Linkous Elementary?
22.5% of students at Gilbert Linkous Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gilbert Linkous Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Gilbert Linkous Elementary is White at 67.5% of enrollment, in Blacksburg, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gilbert Linkous Elementary?
Gilbert Linkous Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (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 Gilbert Linkous Elementary rank among schools in Blacksburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Gilbert Linkous Elementary ranks #1 of 3 schools in Blacksburg, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Blacksburg on the city page.
Is Gilbert Linkous Elementary a good school?
Gilbert Linkous Elementary earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% 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 Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Gilbert Linkous 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.
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.