Enrollment
804
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Alexandria, VA
James K. Polk Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James K. Polk Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510012000043
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James K. Polk Elementary earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #7 of 42
- schools in Alexandria · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.2:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 73.7%
- free-lunch eligible
James K. Polk Elementary has class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James K. Polk Elementary ranks #7 of 42 schools in Alexandria, VA.
School address
District: Alexandria City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510012000043 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.7%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James K. Polk Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at James K. Polk Elementary
James K. Polk Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Alexandria, Virginia, enrolling 804 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 73.7% lands close to the Virginia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 804 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 278 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #47.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (32%) and African American (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 268 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
16.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Alexandria City Public Schools spends $20,887 per pupil, 43% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Alexandria's public schools, it stands alongside Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students): James K. Polk Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 17.3:1).
Alexandria City Public Schools also operates Alexandria City High School (4,655 students) and Francis C. Hammond Middle (1,597 students) alongside James K. Polk 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 James K. Polk Elementary compares
James K. Polk 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 | 15.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.7% | ▲ 28% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 804 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
804
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Virginia - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$20,887
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 268 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 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 31.7%
African American 25.6%
White 24.5%
Asian 11.9%
Two or More 5.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 31.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.6, James K. Polk Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alexandria City Public Schools, which includes James K. Polk Elementary.
$20,887
Per student
+43%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
+26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 70.8%
State 17.5%
Federal 11.7%
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 James K. Polk Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Francis C. Hammond Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| George Washington Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Patrick Henry K-8 School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Vernon Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James K. Polk Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,655
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 1,597
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 72/100
- Enrollment
- 1,458
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 1,075
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 933
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Alexandria
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Hayfield Secondary
Standard public school
3,256 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Patrick Henry K-8 School
Standard public school
1,075 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Parklawn Elementary
Standard public school
963 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Mount Vernon Elementary
Standard public school
933 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Hybla Valley Elementary
Standard public school
878 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Groveton Elementary
Standard public school
764 students 13.2:1 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 (~804 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James K. Polk Elementary's federal record.
- Compare James K. Polk Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Alexandria City 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 James K. Polk Elementary
How many students attend James K. Polk Elementary?
James K. Polk Elementary has 804 students enrolled. It is a public school in Alexandria, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James K. Polk Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James K. Polk Elementary is 15.2:1, which is 9% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James K. Polk Elementary?
73.7% of students at James K. Polk Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James K. Polk Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James K. Polk Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 31.7% of enrollment, in Alexandria, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James K. Polk Elementary?
James K. Polk Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 James K. Polk Elementary rank among schools in Alexandria?
By Resource Investment Index, James K. Polk Elementary ranks #7 of 42 schools in Alexandria, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Alexandria on the city page.
Is James K. Polk Elementary a good school?
James K. Polk Elementary earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% 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 Alexandria City Public Schools?
Besides James K. Polk Elementary, Alexandria City Public Schools also operates Alexandria City High School (4,655 students), Francis C. Hammond Middle (1,597 students), and George Washington Middle (1,458 students). See the Alexandria City 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.