- Enrollment
- 2,507
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Chester, VA
Thomas Dale High
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Dale High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510084000350
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Dale High earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia.
- #11 of 11
- public schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 36.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Dale High has class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Dale High ranks #11 of 11 public schools in Chester, VA.
School address
District: Chesterfield County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510084000350 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Thomas Dale High held near 2,570 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 170.8 → 171.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 510084000350 · Chester, VA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,582 enr · 15.2:1 · 36.9% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Cosby High (2,507 students)
Thomas Dale High held near 2,570 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 170.8 → 171.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Thomas Dale High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Thomas Dale High
2,582 students
- Cosby High
Cosby High
2,507 students
- Manchester Hig
Manchester High
2,236 students
- Lloyd C. Bird
Lloyd C. Bird High
2,131 students
- Midlothian Hig
Midlothian High
2,048 students
- Meadowbrook Hi
Meadowbrook High
1,953 students
What this shows Thomas Dale High reports 2,582 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Dale High compares
Thomas Dale High 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 | 15.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.9% | ▼ 36% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,582 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,582
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Virginia - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.5%
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
$12,776
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors8.5 FTE
Per 304 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
209
in-school suspensions + 182 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 37.7%
White 33.6%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
Two or More 4.8%
Asian 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 37.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.8, Thomas Dale High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 18
District finance for Chesterfield County Public Schools reports $12,776 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Dale High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosby High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manchester High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lloyd C. Bird High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Midlothian High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meadowbrook High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Dale High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,236
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,131
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,048
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,953
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar high schools in Chester
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~2,582 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Dale High
How many students attend Thomas Dale High?
Thomas Dale High has 2,582 students enrolled. It is a high school in Chester, VA. CCD year-over-year: 2,556 (2022-23) → 2,570 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Dale High?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Dale High is 15.2:1, which is 9% 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 Thomas Dale High?
36.9% of students at Thomas Dale High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Dale High?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Dale High is African American at 37.7% of enrollment, in Chester, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Dale High?
Thomas Dale High has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Thomas Dale High rank among public schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Dale High ranks #11 of 11 public schools in Chester, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Chester on the city page.
What other schools are in Chesterfield County Public Schools?
Besides Thomas Dale High, Chesterfield County Public Schools also operates Cosby High (2,507 students), Manchester High (2,236 students), and Lloyd C. Bird High (2,131 students). See the Chesterfield County Public Schools district page for the complete list.