Enrollment
735
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Alexandria, VA
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510012002549
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #27 of 42
- schools in Alexandria · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.3:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 55.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary has class sizes larger than 73% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary ranks #27 of 42 schools in Alexandria, VA.
School address
District: Alexandria City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510012002549 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
55.1%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Samuel W. Tucker Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Alexandria, Virginia, enrolling 735 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 55.1% lands close to the Virginia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 735 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 198 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #99.
Its student body is led by African American (29%) and White (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 78/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 245 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Alexandria City Public Schools spends $20,887 per pupil, 43% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Alexandria's public schools, it stands alongside Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students): Samuel W. Tucker Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.3:1 vs 17.3:1).
Alexandria City Public Schools also operates Alexandria City High School (4,655 students) and Francis C. Hammond Middle (1,597 students) alongside Samuel W. Tucker 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 Samuel W. Tucker Elementary compares
Samuel W. Tucker 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 | 15.3:1 | ▲ 10% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.1% | ▼ 4% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 735 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
735
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
55.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 73% in Virginia - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$20,887
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 245 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
African American 29.0%
White 25.4%
Hispanic or Latino 22.6%
Asian 12.8%
Two or More 9.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 29.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.5, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alexandria City Public Schools, which includes Samuel W. Tucker Elementary.
$20,887
Per student
+43%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
+26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 70.8%
State 17.5%
Federal 11.7%
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 Samuel W. Tucker Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Francis C. Hammond Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | No ratio data |
| George Washington Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Patrick Henry K-8 School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Vernon Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Samuel W. Tucker Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,655
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 1,597
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 72/100
- Enrollment
- 1,458
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 1,075
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 933
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
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
Parklawn Elementary
Standard public school
963 students 16.6:1 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
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 (~735 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Samuel W. Tucker Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Samuel W. Tucker Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Alexandria City 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 Samuel W. Tucker Elementary
How many students attend Samuel W. Tucker Elementary?
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary has 735 students enrolled. It is a public school in Alexandria, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary is 15.3:1, which is 10% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary?
55.1% of students at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Samuel W. Tucker Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary is African American at 29.0% of enrollment, in Alexandria, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary?
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Samuel W. Tucker Elementary rank among schools in Alexandria?
By Resource Investment Index, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary ranks #27 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 Samuel W. Tucker Elementary a good school?
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% 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 Alexandria City Public Schools?
Besides Samuel W. Tucker Elementary, Alexandria City Public Schools also operates Alexandria City High School (4,655 students), Francis C. Hammond Middle (1,597 students), and George Washington Middle (1,458 students). See the Alexandria City 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.