Enrollment
717
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palatine, IL
Virginia Lake Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Virginia Lake Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 173042003156
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Virginia Lake Elem School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Palatine · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 717
- students enrolled
Virginia Lake Elem School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Virginia Lake Elem School ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Palatine, IL.
School address
District: Palatine Ccsd 15 · Illinois
NCES ID 173042003156 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Virginia Lake Elem School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Virginia Lake Elem School
Virginia Lake Elem School is a large elementary school in Palatine, Illinois, enrolling 717 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
Enrollment of 717 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (57%) and White (32%) (diversity index 57/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Palatine's elementary schools, it stands alongside Hunting Ridge Elem School (639 students): Virginia Lake Elem School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.8:1 vs 16.2:1).
Palatine Ccsd 15 also operates Plum Grove Jr High School (1,128 students) and Winston Campus Jr High (847 students) alongside Virginia Lake Elem School.
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 Virginia Lake Elem School compares
Virginia Lake Elem School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 717 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
717
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 67% in Illinois - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.9%
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
$18,762
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 717 Top 13% in Illinois - larger than 87% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 45.0
Students per teacher 14.8:1 +6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 173042003156
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 56.6%
White 32.4%
African American 4.0%
Asian 3.6%
Two or More 3.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, Virginia Lake Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 25.9%
In-school suspensions 13
Out-of-school suspensions 5
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Palatine Ccsd 15, which includes Virginia Lake Elem School.
$18,762
Per student
+10%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 63.0%
State 28.2%
Federal 8.9%
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 Virginia Lake Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plum Grove Jr High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Winston Campus Jr High | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walter R Sundling Jr High Sch | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Frank C Whiteley Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Virginia Lake Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,128
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 10.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 679
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
Similar elementary schools in Palatine
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Hunting Ridge Elem School
Standard public school
639 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Marion Jordan Elem School
Standard public school
503 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Pleasant Hill Elem School
Standard public school
435 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stuart R Paddock School
Standard public school
348 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Virginia Lake Elem School's federal record.
- Compare Virginia Lake Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- Palatine Ccsd 15'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 Virginia Lake Elem School
How many students attend Virginia Lake Elem School?
Virginia Lake Elem School has 717 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palatine, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Virginia Lake Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Virginia Lake Elem School is 14.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Virginia Lake Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Virginia Lake Elem School is Hispanic or Latino at 56.6% of enrollment, in Palatine, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Virginia Lake Elem School?
Virginia Lake Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Virginia Lake Elem School rank among elementary schools in Palatine?
By Resource Investment Index, Virginia Lake Elem School ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Palatine, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Palatine on the city page.
Is Virginia Lake Elem School a good school?
Virginia Lake Elem School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. 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 Palatine Ccsd 15?
Besides Virginia Lake Elem School, Palatine Ccsd 15 also operates Plum Grove Jr High School (1,128 students), Winston Campus Jr High (847 students), and Lincoln Elementary School (772 students). See the Palatine Ccsd 15 district page for the complete list.