Enrollment
555
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Virginia Beach, VA
W.T. Cooke Elementary
Federal NCES profile for W.T. Cooke Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510384001723
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W.T. Cooke Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Virginia schools.
- #49 of 53
- schools in Virginia Beach · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 68.6%
- free-lunch eligible
W.T. Cooke Elementary has class sizes larger than 74% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W.T. Cooke Elementary ranks #49 of 53 schools in Virginia Beach, VA.
School address
District: Virginia Beach City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510384001723 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.6%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+19% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W.T. Cooke Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at W.T. Cooke Elementary
W.T. Cooke Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, enrolling 555 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 68.6% lands close to the Virginia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 555 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 294 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #239, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (28%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 463 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Virginia Beach's public schools, it stands alongside Glenwood Elementary (896 students): W.T. Cooke Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.4:1 vs 14.2:1).
Virginia Beach City Public Schools also operates Landstown High (2,152 students) and Kempsville High (2,046 students) alongside W.T. Cooke 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 W.T. Cooke Elementary compares
W.T. Cooke 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 | 15.4:1 | ▲ 11% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.6% | ▲ 19% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 555 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
555
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 74% in Virginia - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,118
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.2 FTE
Per 463 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 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 54.2%
Hispanic or Latino 27.6%
Two or More 9.0%
African American 6.8%
Asian 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 54.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.7, W.T. Cooke Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, which includes W.T. Cooke Elementary.
$14,118
Per student
-4%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.6%
State 39.7%
Federal 13.7%
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 W.T. Cooke Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landstown High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kempsville High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bayside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tallwood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Floyd Kellam High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W.T. Cooke Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,152
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,984
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,842
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Virginia Beach
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Glenwood Elementary
Standard public school
896 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Thoroughgood Elementary
Standard public school
767 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
John B. Dey Elementary
Standard public school
744 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
New Castle Elementary
Standard public school
728 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
706 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Point O' View Elementary
Standard public school
692 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~555 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W.T. Cooke Elementary's federal record.
- Compare W.T. Cooke Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Virginia Beach City 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 W.T. Cooke Elementary
How many students attend W.T. Cooke Elementary?
W.T. Cooke Elementary has 555 students enrolled. It is a public school in Virginia Beach, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W.T. Cooke Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at W.T. Cooke Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 11% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W.T. Cooke Elementary?
68.6% of students at W.T. Cooke Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W.T. Cooke Elementary?
The largest demographic group at W.T. Cooke Elementary is White at 54.2% of enrollment, in Virginia Beach, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W.T. Cooke Elementary?
W.T. Cooke Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 W.T. Cooke Elementary rank among schools in Virginia Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, W.T. Cooke Elementary ranks #49 of 53 schools in Virginia Beach, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Virginia Beach on the city page.
Is W.T. Cooke Elementary a good school?
W.T. Cooke Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of 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 Virginia Beach City Public Schools?
Besides W.T. Cooke Elementary, Virginia Beach City Public Schools also operates Landstown High (2,152 students), Kempsville High (2,046 students), and Bayside High (1,984 students). See the Virginia Beach City 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.