Very Good
#554 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 30% in state
Forest Elementary
Elementary School · Bedford County Public Schools · Forest, VA
A Bedford County Public Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
One Scholar Lane, Forest, VA 24551
- Math 88% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Forest Elementary score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 85%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 9 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 87% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 86% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 87% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
18%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Forest Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 21Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average586/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$91,119
Median home value
$345,600
Median rent
$1,087/mo
College educated
46.8%
Homeownership
81.6%
Poverty rate
6.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24551; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | 1.7 mi | 540 | Compare → |
| Timberlake Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | 4.2private | PK–12 | 3.6 mi | 397 | Compare → |
| Blue Ridge Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–6 | 3.7 mi | 67 | Compare → |
| Tomahawk ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | PK–5 | 4.5 mi | 679 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Bedford County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 22
- Rank in district
- #7 of 19
- District spending per student
- $13,519NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Forest Elementary is listed in Bedford County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Forest Elementary
Forest Elementary is a public elementary school in Forest, VA, part of Bedford County Public Schools, serving approximately 362 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #554 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 362
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Bedford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.8%
- Phone
- (434) 525-2681
- Area population (ZIP 24551)
- 27,606
- Area average commute
- 23.2 min
- Area median age
- 42
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 24551; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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