Enrollment
879
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Stafford, VA
Stafford Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Stafford Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 510366001600
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Stafford Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #7 of 8
- elementary schools in Stafford · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.7:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 31.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Stafford Elementary has class sizes larger than 98% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Stafford Elementary ranks #7 of 8 elementary schools in Stafford, VA.
School address
District: Stafford County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510366001600 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.7:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+35% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.0%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Stafford Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Stafford Elementary
Stafford Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Stafford, Virginia, enrolling 879 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.7:1 is larger than about 98% of Virginia schools and 35% above the 13.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 879 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 307 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #262, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (31%) and Hispanic or Latino (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 440 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
11.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Stafford's elementary schools, it stands alongside Park Ridge Elementary (908 students): Stafford Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.7:1 vs 18.2:1).
Stafford County Public Schools also operates Mountain View High (2,233 students) and Brooke Point High (2,199 students) alongside Stafford 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 Stafford Elementary compares
Stafford 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 | 18.7:1 | ▲ 35% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.0% | ▼ 46% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 879 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.7:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
879
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
18.7:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 98% in Virginia - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,415
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 440 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 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
White 30.8%
Hispanic or Latino 28.8%
African American 24.5%
Two or More 9.4%
Asian 6.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 30.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.0, Stafford Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Stafford County Public Schools, which includes Stafford Elementary.
$12,415
Per student
-15%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.8%
State 52.1%
Federal 11.1%
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 Stafford Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Brooke Point High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Stafford Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Colonial Forge High | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| North Stafford High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Stafford Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,233
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,199
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 2,198
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 1,982
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar elementary schools in Stafford
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Park Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
908 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Hampton Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Kate Waller Barrett Elementary
Standard public school
838 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Margaret Brent Elementary
Standard public school
796 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Garrisonville Elementary
Standard public school
735 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Widewater Elementary
Standard public school
698 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~879 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Stafford Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Stafford Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Stafford County 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 Stafford Elementary
How many students attend Stafford Elementary?
Stafford Elementary has 879 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Stafford, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Stafford Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Stafford Elementary is 18.7:1, which is 35% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 19% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Stafford Elementary?
31.0% of students at Stafford Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Stafford Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Stafford Elementary is White at 30.8% of enrollment, in Stafford, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Stafford Elementary?
Stafford Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Stafford Elementary rank among elementary schools in Stafford?
By Resource Investment Index, Stafford Elementary ranks #7 of 8 elementary schools in Stafford, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Stafford on the city page.
Is Stafford Elementary a good school?
Stafford Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% 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 Stafford County Public Schools?
Besides Stafford Elementary, Stafford County Public Schools also operates Mountain View High (2,233 students), Brooke Point High (2,199 students), and Stafford Senior High (2,198 students). See the Stafford County 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.