- Enrollment
- 1,723
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Newport News, VA
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Joseph H. Saunders Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510264001059
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Virginia schools.
- #19 of 27
- schools in Newport News · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 89.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary has class sizes larger than 93% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph H. Saunders Elementary ranks #19 of 27 schools in Newport News, VA.
School address
District: Newport News City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510264001059 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+50 students YoY
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary grew from 621 students in 2022-23 to 671 in 2023-24 (+8.1%).
Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 38.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+50 students YoY 510264001059 · Newport News, VA Other · MID · TRAD
660 enr · 17.4:1 · 89.2% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Woodside High (1,723 students)
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary grew from 621 students in 2022-23 to 671 in 2023-24 (+8.1%). Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 38.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Woodside High
Woodside High
1,723 students
- Menchville Hig
Menchville High
1,707 students
- Warwick High
Warwick High
1,622 students
- Denbigh High
Denbigh High
1,269 students
- Heritage High
Heritage High
1,106 students
- This school 660
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary
660 students
What this shows Joseph H. Saunders Elementary reports 660 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joseph H. Saunders Elementary compares
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 25% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 89.2% | ▲ 55% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 660 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
660
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
89.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 93% in Virginia - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
32.6%
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
$16,082
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 330 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 48.3%
Hispanic or Latino 28.0%
White 14.7%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 1.5%
Largest group: African American at 48.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Joseph H. Saunders Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Newport News City Public Schools reports $16,082 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joseph H. Saunders Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Menchville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Warwick High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Denbigh High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Heritage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph H. Saunders Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,707
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,622
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,106
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Newport News
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Achievable Dream Academy
Standard public school
641 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Carver Elementary
Standard public school
634 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Discovery Stem Academy
Standard public school
561 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Kiln Creek Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Katherine Johnson Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Oliver C. Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
549 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~660 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joseph H. Saunders Elementary
How many students attend Joseph H. Saunders Elementary?
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary has 660 students enrolled. It is a public school in Newport News, VA. CCD year-over-year: 621 (2022-23) → 671 (2023-24), up 50.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph H. Saunders Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph H. Saunders Elementary is 17.4:1, which is 25% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joseph H. Saunders Elementary?
89.2% of students at Joseph H. Saunders Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph H. Saunders Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Joseph H. Saunders Elementary is African American at 48.3% of enrollment, in Newport News, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph H. Saunders Elementary?
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical 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 Joseph H. Saunders Elementary rank among schools in Newport News?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph H. Saunders Elementary ranks #19 of 27 schools in Newport News, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Newport News on the city page.
What other schools are in Newport News City Public Schools?
Besides Joseph H. Saunders Elementary, Newport News City Public Schools also operates Woodside High (1,723 students), Menchville High (1,707 students), and Warwick High (1,622 students). See the Newport News City Public Schools district page for the complete list.