Excellent
#239 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 13% in state
Harding Avenue Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools · Blacksburg, VA
A Montgomery County Public Schools elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
429 Harding Avenue, Blacksburg, VA 24060
- Math 91% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 91% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Harding Avenue Elementary score 90% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 84%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2019, reaching 91% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 88% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 89% (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
21.6%
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 Harding Avenue 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 74Very Walkable
- Transit 44Some Transit
- Bike 87Very Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated792/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Blacksburg), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,496
Median home value
$412,300
Median rent
$1,266/mo
College educated
63.4%
Homeownership
42.2%
Poverty rate
33.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24060; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayspring Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | PK–12 | 0.3 mi | 130 | Compare → |
| Gilbert Linkous ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 312 | Compare → |
| Margaret Beeks ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–5 | 1.5 mi | 313 | Compare → |
| Christiansburg ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 3–5 | Not available | 419 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Montgomery County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 21
- Rank in district
- #4 of 19
- District spending per student
- $14,114NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Harding Avenue Elementary is listed in Montgomery County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Harding Avenue Elementary
Harding Avenue Elementary is a public elementary school in Blacksburg, VA, part of Montgomery County Public Schools, serving approximately 282 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #239 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 88% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Harding Avenue Elementary
What grades does Harding Avenue Elementary serve?
Harding Avenue Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Harding Avenue Elementary?
Harding Avenue Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 282 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Avenue Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Harding Avenue Elementary is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Harding Avenue Elementary rank in VA?
Harding Avenue Elementary ranks #239 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Harding Avenue Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Harding Avenue Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Harding Avenue Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Harding Avenue Elementary has 88% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Harding Avenue Elementary a charter school?
No, Harding Avenue Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Harding Avenue Elementary a Title I school?
No, Harding Avenue Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harding Avenue Elementary?
21.6% of students at Harding Avenue 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 282
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Montgomery County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.6%
- Phone
- (540) 951-5732
- Area population (ZIP 24060)
- 48,197
- Area average commute
- 16 min
- Area median age
- 27.3
Official sources & links
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 24060; 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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