- Enrollment
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Roanoke, VA
Penn Forest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Penn Forest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510333001468
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Penn Forest Elementary earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #15 of 27
- schools in Roanoke · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 23.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Penn Forest Elementary has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Penn Forest Elementary ranks #15 of 27 schools in Roanoke, VA.
School address
District: Roanoke County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510333001468 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Penn Forest Elementary held near 406 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 29.5 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 510333001468 · Roanoke, VA Other · SMALL · TRAD
408 enr · 14.1:1 · 23.0% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: William Byrd High (1,134 students)
Penn Forest Elementary held near 406 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 29.5 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Penn Forest Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- William Byrd H
William Byrd High
1,134 students
- Cave Spring Hi
Cave Spring High
1,046 students
- Northside High
Northside High
919 students
- Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley High
832 students
- William Byrd M
William Byrd Middle
802 students
- This school 408
Penn Forest Elementary
408 students
What this shows Penn Forest Elementary reports 408 students on the CCD universe file.
How Penn Forest Elementary compares
Penn Forest Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▲ 1% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.0% | ▼ 60% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 408 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
408
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 55% in Virginia - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
6.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,365
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 408 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 5 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.
Student demographics
White 67.4%
Two or More 9.1%
Asian 8.8%
African American 7.8%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 67.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.9, Penn Forest Elementary is about as mixed as the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Roanoke County Public Schools reports $13,365 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Penn Forest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Byrd High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cave Spring High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northside High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hidden Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William Byrd Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Penn Forest Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,046
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 919
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 832
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 802
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar other schools in Roanoke
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Round Hill Elementary
Standard public school
720 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Westside Elementary
Standard public school
624 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Fallon Park Elementary
Standard public school
591 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Preston Park Elementary
Standard public school
535 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Burlington Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Cave Spring Elementary
Standard public school
489 students 15.3:1 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 (~408 students)
Frequently asked questions about Penn Forest Elementary
How many students attend Penn Forest Elementary?
Penn Forest Elementary has 408 students enrolled. It is a public school in Roanoke, VA. CCD year-over-year: 400 (2022-23) → 406 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penn Forest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Penn Forest Elementary is 14.1:1, which is 1% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Penn Forest Elementary?
23.0% of students at Penn Forest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Penn Forest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Penn Forest Elementary is White at 67.4% of enrollment, in Roanoke, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Penn Forest Elementary?
Penn Forest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 Penn Forest Elementary rank among schools in Roanoke?
By Resource Investment Index, Penn Forest Elementary ranks #15 of 27 schools in Roanoke, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Roanoke on the city page.
What other schools are in Roanoke County Public Schools?
Besides Penn Forest Elementary, Roanoke County Public Schools also operates William Byrd High (1,134 students), Cave Spring High (1,046 students), and Northside High (919 students). See the Roanoke County Public Schools district page for the complete list.