- Enrollment
- 2,345
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chesapeake, VA
Southwestern Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Southwestern Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510081000308
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwestern Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #7 of 20
- schools in Chesapeake · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 90.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwestern Elementary has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwestern Elementary ranks #7 of 20 schools in Chesapeake, VA.
School address
District: Chesapeake City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510081000308 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Southwestern Elementary held near 550 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.5 → 37.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 510081000308 · Chesapeake, VA Other · MID · TRAD
549 enr · 13.4:1 · 90.8% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Grassfield High (2,345 students)
Southwestern Elementary held near 550 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.5 → 37.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Southwestern Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Grassfield Hig
Grassfield High
2,345 students
- Oscar F. Smith
Oscar F. Smith High
2,264 students
- Western Branch
Western Branch High
2,138 students
- Deep Creek Hig
Deep Creek High
1,691 students
- Indian River H
Indian River High
1,634 students
- This school 549
Southwestern Elementary
549 students
What this shows Southwestern Elementary reports 549 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwestern Elementary compares
Southwestern 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.8% | ▲ 58% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 549 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
549
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
90.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 44% in Virginia - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.0%
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
$15,274
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
Counselors1.6 FTE
Per 343 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 35 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 69.8%
White 12.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%
Two or More 6.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 69.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.2, Southwestern Elementary is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chesapeake City Public Schools reports $15,274 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwestern Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oscar F. Smith High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Branch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Deep Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian River High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwestern Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,264
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,138
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,691
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,634
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar other schools in Chesapeake
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Grassfield Elementary
Standard public school
1,306 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Cedar Road Elementary
Standard public school
988 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Deep Creek Central Elementary
Standard public school
888 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Southeastern Elementary
Standard public school
828 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
B.M. Williams Primary
Standard public school
825 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Georgetown Primary
Standard public school
804 students 14.6:1 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 (~549 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwestern Elementary
How many students attend Southwestern Elementary?
Southwestern Elementary has 549 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chesapeake, VA. CCD year-over-year: 544 (2022-23) → 550 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwestern Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwestern Elementary is 13.4:1, which is 4% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 15% 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 Southwestern Elementary?
90.8% of students at Southwestern Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwestern Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Southwestern Elementary is African American at 69.8% of enrollment, in Chesapeake, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwestern Elementary?
Southwestern Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 Southwestern Elementary rank among schools in Chesapeake?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwestern Elementary ranks #7 of 20 schools in Chesapeake, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Chesapeake on the city page.
What other schools are in Chesapeake City Public Schools?
Besides Southwestern Elementary, Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students), Oscar F. Smith High (2,264 students), and Western Branch High (2,138 students). See the Chesapeake City Public Schools district page for the complete list.