Big Walnut Elementary School

Big Walnut Elementary School, a compact primary school in Sunbury, Ohio, operated by Big Walnut Local, serves 295 students, covering grades K through 3. Compared to the state average of about 404 students per school, that is 27% smaller than typical.

Big Walnut Local comprises 8 schools with combined enrollment of 4,298 students; Big Walnut Elementary School is among them.

Looking at the student body, Big Walnut Elementary School lists that nearly all students (81%) are White. Beyond that, the school lists 7% multiracial, 4% Black, 4% Asian, 4% Hispanic. That composition is broadly in line with Delaware County as a whole.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Big Walnut Elementary School logs 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 17.4:1. The state averages about 17.9:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 13% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Big Walnut Elementary School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 83.8% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 74.8%.

In the surrounding community, census data for Delaware County shows median household earnings sit near $133,540, 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 3%. Across Delaware County's 59 public schools (combined enrollment of about 44,100 students), Big Walnut Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Big Walnut Middle School, around 0.4 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Big Walnut Elementary School ranks 7th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 79.8%.

The school occupies a town-based site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Big Walnut Elementary School has edged down 25%, going from 392 students in 2018 to 295 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share ticked down from 90% to 81%. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 19.1:1 in 2018 to 17.4:1 today.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.