- Enrollment
- 1,220
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lynchburg, VA
Robert S. Payne Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Robert S. Payne Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510234000965
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Robert S. Payne Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #6 of 14
- schools in Lynchburg · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 96.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Robert S. Payne Elementary has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Robert S. Payne Elementary ranks #6 of 14 schools in Lynchburg, VA.
School address
District: Lynchburg City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510234000965 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Robert S. Payne Elementary held near 466 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.5 → 37.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 510234000965 · Lynchburg, VA Other · SMALL · TRAD
435 enr · 13.6:1 · 96.1% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: E.C. Glass High (1,220 students)
Robert S. Payne Elementary held near 466 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.5 → 37.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Robert S. Payne Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- E.C. Glass Hig
E.C. Glass High
1,220 students
- Heritage High
Heritage High
1,113 students
- Sandusky Middl
Sandusky Middle
583 students
- Paul Laurence
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation
531 students
- Linkhorne Midd
Linkhorne Middle
519 students
- This school 435
Robert S. Payne Elementary
435 students
What this shows Robert S. Payne Elementary reports 435 students on the CCD universe file.
How Robert S. Payne Elementary compares
Robert S. Payne 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 | 13.6:1 | ▼ 2% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.1% | ▲ 67% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 435 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
435
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 67% 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
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 47% in Virginia - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.7%
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
$17,083
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 218 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 64.4%
White 18.2%
Two or More 9.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 64.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.8, Robert S. Payne Elementary is about as mixed as the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lynchburg City Public Schools reports $17,083 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Robert S. Payne Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.C. Glass High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Heritage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sandusky Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Linkhorne Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Robert S. Payne Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,113
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Lynchburg
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Tomahawk Elementary
Standard public school
667 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Leesville Road Elementary
Standard public school
646 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Heritage Elementary
Standard public school
448 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Sheffield Elementary
Standard public school
443 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Bedford Hills Elementary
Standard public school
402 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Linkhorne Elementary
Standard public school
378 students 12.6:1 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 (~435 students)
Frequently asked questions about Robert S. Payne Elementary
How many students attend Robert S. Payne Elementary?
Robert S. Payne Elementary has 435 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lynchburg, VA. CCD year-over-year: 460 (2022-23) → 466 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert S. Payne Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Robert S. Payne Elementary is 13.6:1, which is 2% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 13% 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 Robert S. Payne Elementary?
96.1% of students at Robert S. Payne Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Robert S. Payne Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Robert S. Payne Elementary is African American at 64.4% of enrollment, in Lynchburg, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Robert S. Payne Elementary?
Robert S. Payne Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (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 Robert S. Payne Elementary rank among schools in Lynchburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Robert S. Payne Elementary ranks #6 of 14 schools in Lynchburg, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lynchburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Lynchburg City Public Schools?
Besides Robert S. Payne Elementary, Lynchburg City Public Schools also operates E.C. Glass High (1,220 students), Heritage High (1,113 students), and Sandusky Middle (583 students). See the Lynchburg City Public Schools district page for the complete list.