- Enrollment
- 998
- Students per teacher
- 7.4:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Harrisonburg, VA
Keister Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Keister Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510186000783
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Keister Elementary earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools.
- #1 of 8
- schools in Harrisonburg · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 80.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Keister Elementary has class sizes smaller than 72% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Keister Elementary ranks #1 of 8 schools in Harrisonburg, VA.
School address
District: Harrisonburg City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510186000783 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Keister Elementary shrank from 526 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-5.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 510186000783 · Harrisonburg, VA Other · SMALL · TRAD
475 enr · 12.5:1 · 80.2% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Harrisonburg High (998 students)
Keister Elementary shrank from 526 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-5.7%). Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Keister Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Harrisonburg H
Harrisonburg High
998 students
- Thomas Harriso
Thomas Harrison Middle
771 students
- Skyline Middle
Skyline Middle
738 students
- Bluestone Elem
Bluestone Elementary
566 students
- Waterman Eleme
Waterman Elementary
557 students
- This school
Keister Elementary
475 students
What this shows Keister Elementary reports 475 students on the CCD universe file.
How Keister Elementary compares
Keister Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 12.5:1 | ▼ 10% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.2% | ▲ 39% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 475 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
475
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
80.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 28% in Virginia - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,787
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 238 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 48.6%
White 35.8%
African American 9.9%
Two or More 3.8%
Asian 1.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 48.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.4, Keister Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Harrisonburg City Public Schools reports $15,787 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Keister Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Thomas Harrison Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Skyline Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bluestone Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waterman Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Keister Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 771
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 738
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 557
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar other schools in Harrisonburg
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Waterman Elementary
Standard public school
557 students 13:1 students per teacher
Stone Spring Elementary
Standard public school
554 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Smithland Elementary
Standard public school
514 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Spotswood Elementary
Standard public school
468 students 12:1 students per teacher
Mountain View Elementary
Standard public school
411 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Lacey Spring Elementary
Standard public school
350 students 19.4:1 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 (~475 students)
Frequently asked questions about Keister Elementary
How many students attend Keister Elementary?
Keister Elementary has 475 students enrolled. It is a public school in Harrisonburg, VA. CCD year-over-year: 526 (2022-23) → 496 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Keister Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Keister Elementary is 12.5:1, which is 10% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 20% 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 Keister Elementary?
80.2% of students at Keister Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Keister Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Keister Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 48.6% of enrollment, in Harrisonburg, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Keister Elementary?
Keister 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 Keister Elementary rank among schools in Harrisonburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Keister Elementary ranks #1 of 8 schools in Harrisonburg, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Harrisonburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Harrisonburg City Public Schools?
Besides Keister Elementary, Harrisonburg City Public Schools also operates Harrisonburg High (998 students), Thomas Harrison Middle (771 students), and Skyline Middle (738 students). See the Harrisonburg City Public Schools district page for the complete list.