- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fairmont, WV
Watson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Watson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 540072000579
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watson Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the West Virginia median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most West Virginia schools.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Fairmont · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 383
- students enrolled
Watson Elementary School has class sizes near the West Virginia median. Computed live against every West Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watson Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Fairmont, WV.
School address
District: Marion County Schools · West Virginia
NCES ID 540072000579 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Watson Elementary School shrank from 415 students in 2022-23 to 376 in 2023-24 (-9.4%).
Teacher FTE held 27.0 → 27.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 540072000579 · Fairmont, WV Other · SMALL · TRAD
383 enr · 14.2:1 · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Fairmont Senior High School (835 students)
Watson Elementary School shrank from 415 students in 2022-23 to 376 in 2023-24 (-9.4%). Teacher FTE held 27.0 → 27.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · West Virginia schools → · Find another →
Watson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fairmont Senio
Fairmont Senior High School
835 students
- East Fairmont
East Fairmont High School
725 students
- North Marion H
North Marion High School
671 students
- East Fairmont
East Fairmont Middle School
647 students
- West Fairmont
West Fairmont Middle School
592 students
- This school
Watson Elementary School
383 students
What this shows Watson Elementary School reports 383 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watson Elementary School compares
Watson Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs West Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs West Virginia | West Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▲ 8% | 13.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 383 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
383
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 66% in West Virginia - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$14,106
per pupil, district-wide
- below West Virginia avg of $15,158
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 383 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.6%
Two or More 14.9%
African American 8.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 73.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.9, Watson Elementary School is more mixed than the West Virginia school average of 17.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Marion County Schools reports $14,106 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Senior High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Fairmont High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Marion High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Fairmont Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Fairmont Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 725
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 671
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 592
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
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 (~383 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watson Elementary School
How many students attend Watson Elementary School?
Watson Elementary School has 383 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fairmont, WV. CCD year-over-year: 415 (2022-23) → 376 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watson Elementary School is 14.2:1, which is 8% higher than the West Virginia average of 13.1:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Watson Elementary School is White at 73.6% of enrollment, in Fairmont, WV.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watson Elementary School?
Watson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Watson Elementary School rank among schools in Fairmont?
By Resource Investment Index, Watson Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Fairmont, WV. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fairmont on the city page.
What other schools are in Marion County Schools?
Besides Watson Elementary School, Marion County Schools also operates Fairmont Senior High School (835 students), East Fairmont High School (725 students), and North Marion High School (671 students). See the Marion County Schools district page for the complete list.