- Enrollment
- 1,686
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Suffolk, VA
Southwestern Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Southwestern Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510371001629
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwestern Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Virginia schools.
- #7 of 11
- schools in Suffolk · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 64.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwestern Elementary has class sizes larger than 83% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwestern Elementary ranks #7 of 11 schools in Suffolk, VA.
School address
District: Suffolk City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510371001629 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Southwestern Elementary held near 609 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 36.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 510371001629 · Suffolk, VA Other · MID · TRAD
579 enr · 16.1:1 · 64.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: King's Fork High (1,686 students)
Southwestern Elementary held near 609 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 36.0 → 34.0 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
- King's Fork Hi
King's Fork High
1,686 students
- Nansemond Rive
Nansemond River High
1,683 students
- Lakeland High
Lakeland High
1,045 students
- King's Fork Mi
King's Fork Middle
986 students
- Florence Bowse
Florence Bowser Elementary
926 students
- This school 579
Southwestern Elementary
579 students
What this shows Southwestern Elementary reports 579 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 | 16.1:1 | ▲ 16% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.0% | ▲ 11% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 579 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
579
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in Virginia - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,431
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 579 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
25
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.0%
African American 26.4%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Two or More 7.3%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 56.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.3, Southwestern Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Suffolk City Public Schools reports $14,431 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| King's Fork High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nansemond River High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lakeland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| King's Fork Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Florence Bowser Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher 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
- 1,683
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 986
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 926
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Suffolk
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Florence Bowser Elementary
Standard public school
926 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Northern Shores Elementary
Standard public school
798 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Hillpoint Elementary
Standard public school
780 students 17:1 students per teacher
Creekside Elementary
Standard public school
764 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Mack Benn Jr. Elementary
Standard public school
713 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Elephant's Fork Elementary
Standard public school
653 students 16.7:1 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 (~579 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwestern Elementary
How many students attend Southwestern Elementary?
Southwestern Elementary has 579 students enrolled. It is a public school in Suffolk, VA. CCD year-over-year: 595 (2022-23) → 609 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwestern Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwestern Elementary is 16.1:1, which is 16% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwestern Elementary?
64.0% 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 White at 56.0% of enrollment, in Suffolk, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwestern Elementary?
Southwestern Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Suffolk?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwestern Elementary ranks #7 of 11 schools in Suffolk, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Suffolk on the city page.
What other schools are in Suffolk City Public Schools?
Besides Southwestern Elementary, Suffolk City Public Schools also operates King's Fork High (1,686 students), Nansemond River High (1,683 students), and Lakeland High (1,045 students). See the Suffolk City Public Schools district page for the complete list.