Enrollment
963
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Alexandria, VA
Parklawn Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Parklawn Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510126000553
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Parklawn Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #34 of 42
- schools in Alexandria · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.6:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 91.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Parklawn Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Parklawn Elementary ranks #34 of 42 schools in Alexandria, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126000553 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
58.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.6:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
91.5%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Parklawn Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Parklawn Elementary
Parklawn Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Alexandria, Virginia, enrolling 963 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.6:1 is larger than about 88% of Virginia schools and 19% above the 13.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 91.5% of students qualify for free meals, 59% above the Virginia average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 963 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 177 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #126, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (31%) and White (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 482 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Fairfax County Public Schools spends $17,977 per pupil, 23% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Alexandria's public schools, it stands alongside Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students): Parklawn Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.6:1 vs 17.3:1).
Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students) and Robinson Secondary (3,710 students) alongside Parklawn 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 Parklawn Elementary compares
Parklawn 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 | 16.6:1 | ▲ 19% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.5% | ▲ 59% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 963 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
963
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
91.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 88% in Virginia - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 482 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 30.5%
White 26.7%
Asian 24.6%
African American 16.1%
Two or More 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 30.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.9, Parklawn 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 Parklawn 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 Parklawn Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Parklawn 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 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
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
James K. Polk Elementary
Standard public school
804 students 15.2:1 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 (~963 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Parklawn Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Parklawn 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 Parklawn Elementary
How many students attend Parklawn Elementary?
Parklawn Elementary has 963 students enrolled. It is a public school in Alexandria, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Parklawn Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Parklawn Elementary is 16.6:1, which is 19% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Parklawn Elementary?
91.5% of students at Parklawn Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Parklawn Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Parklawn Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 30.5% of enrollment, in Alexandria, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Parklawn Elementary?
Parklawn Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical 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 Parklawn Elementary rank among schools in Alexandria?
By Resource Investment Index, Parklawn Elementary ranks #34 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 Parklawn Elementary a good school?
Parklawn Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% 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 Fairfax County Public Schools?
Besides Parklawn 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.