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Very Good

#554 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 30% in state

Forest Elementary

Elementary School · Bedford County Public Schools

One Scholar Lane, Forest, VA 24551

Enrollment

362

Student-Teacher

19.1:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#554 of 1,851

In Forest

#3 of 5

public schools

In district

#7 of 19

Bedford County Public Schools

Academic growth

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Forest Elementary

7.4/10

Elementary School in Forest · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Jefferson Forest High

6.8/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Forest Middle

7.2/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Forest Elementary

Forest Elementary is a public elementary school in Forest, VA, part of Bedford County Public Schools. Forest Elementary serves approximately 362 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Forest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #554 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Forest Elementary show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.4 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.2
  • VA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.9Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency87% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency86% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+13.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+10.3 pts
Overall Proficiency87% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)85% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+1.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile69th
Resources & Environment2.0Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,519
Chronic Absenteeism10.8%

Forest Elementary — Students at Forest Elementary score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 85%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

18%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 85.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.5% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 87.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.2% (2025 SOL)

Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
96%
ELA
95%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
74%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
81%
2013
Math
78%
ELA
83%
2014
Math
88%
ELA
91%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
81%
ELA
83%
2017
ELA
87%
2018
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2019
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2020*
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2021*
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
87.5%
ELA
86%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.2/10.

How Forest Elementary Compares

See how Forest Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.4/10
70th percentile in VA
Academic
7.9/10
Very Good
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
2.0/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

One Scholar Lane, Forest, VA 24551

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forest Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Thomas Jefferson Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Boonsboro Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 5.9 miles away, in nearby Lynchburg), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, New London Academy Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 4.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Forest, see our Forest schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Jefferson Forest High Forest 0.2 mi 6.8
Forest Middle Forest 0.5 mi 7.2
Thomas Jefferson Elementary Forest 1.7 mi 8.4
TIMBERLAKE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Forest 3.6 mi 4.2
BLUE RIDGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Lynchburg 3.7 mi 7.3
New London Academy Elementary Forest 4.8 mi 8.0
Brookville Middle Lynchburg 4.3 mi 5.8
Tomahawk Elementary Lynchburg 4.5 mi 6.3
Brookville High Lynchburg 4.5 mi 6.7
THE BRANCHES ACADEMY & EARLY LEARNING CENTER Lynchburg 4.8 mi 5.4
Boonsboro Elementary Lynchburg 5.9 mi 8.2
Heritage Elementary Lynchburg 5.6 mi 5.8
Leesville Road Elementary Lynchburg 5.9 mi 7.6
Heritage High Lynchburg 5.7 mi 5.7
Sandusky Elementary Lynchburg 5.7 mi 5.3
NEW COVENANT SCHOOLS Lynchburg 5.8 mi 5.1
JAMES RIVER DAY SCHOOL Lynchburg 6.5 mi 6.7
Sandusky Middle Lynchburg 5.8 mi 4.1
BRIDGES TREATMENT CENTER Lynchburg 6.1 mi
RIVERMONT LYNCHBURG NORTH Lynchburg 6.3 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24551 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$91,119

Median Home Value

$345,600

Median Rent

$1,087/mo

Population

27,606

College Educated

46.8%

Homeownership

81.6%

Avg Commute

23.2 min

Poverty Rate

6.7%

Median Age

42

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ACADEMY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Reston, VA 7.4
Aberdeen Elementary Hampton, VA 7.4
Amherst Elementary Amherst, VA 7.4
Cave Spring Elementary Roanoke, VA 7.4
Deer Park Elementary Newport News, VA 7.4
Herman L. Horn Elementary Vinton, VA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Forest Elementary

What grades does Forest Elementary serve?

Forest Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Forest Elementary?

Forest Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 362 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Forest Elementary is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forest Elementary rank in VA?

Forest Elementary ranks #554 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Forest Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Forest Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest Elementary has 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Forest Elementary a charter school?

No, Forest Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Forest Elementary a Title I school?

No, Forest Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forest Elementary?

18.0% of students at Forest Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
21 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
362
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Free/Reduced Lunch
18.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Bedford County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.8%

District

Bedford County Public Schools
District Enrollment
9,059
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,519
District Rank
#7 of 19

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