Bessie Weller Elementary

As a cozy elementary school in Staunton, Virginia, Bessie Weller Elementary works with 373 students from grades K through 5, part of Staunton City Public Schools. Enrollment runs roughly 25% smaller than the state mean of about 499.

Staunton City Public Schools comprises 6 schools with combined enrollment of 2,692 students; Bessie Weller Elementary is among them.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Bessie Weller Elementary lists that 54% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school lists 17% multiracial, 15% Black, 12% Hispanic, 2% Asian. The wider county runs roughly 79% White, putting the school's mix considerably less White than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Bessie Weller Elementary has 31 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.0:1. The state averages around 13.8:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 83% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

With demographic context factored in, Bessie Weller Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 65.5%; this one delivers 75.7%.

In the surrounding community, Staunton city reports that median household earnings sit near $65,581, 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 8%. Bessie Weller Elementary is one of 11 public schools in Staunton city (combined enrollment of about 2,780 students).

Nearest neighbor: Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Elementary, around 1.0 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 5 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Bessie Weller Elementary ranks 4th on composite proficiency, behind the local average of 77.4%.

Geographically, the school is in an inner-city area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Bessie Weller Elementary has showed little movement, going from 380 students in 2018 to 373 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share ticked down from 20% to 15%.

Within the allk12 community for this school, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.