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Excellent

#239 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 13% in state

Harding Avenue Elementary

Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools

429 Harding Avenue, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Enrollment

282

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

8.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#239 of 1,851

In Blacksburg

#3 of 7

public schools

In district

#4 of 19

Montgomery County Public Schools

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Harding Avenue Elementary

8.3/10

Elementary School in Blacksburg · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Dayspring Christian Academy

5.8/10

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

Gilbert Linkous Elementary

7.5/10

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

About Harding Avenue Elementary

Harding Avenue Elementary is a public elementary school in Blacksburg, VA, part of Montgomery County Public Schools. Harding Avenue Elementary serves approximately 282 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Harding Avenue Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #239 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Harding Avenue Elementary show 88% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.5 pts above district
  • This school 8.3 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • VA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.43 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency90% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency91% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+16.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.3 pts
Overall Proficiency91% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)84% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment8.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,114
Chronic Absenteeism10.6%

Harding Avenue Elementary — Students at Harding Avenue Elementary score 90% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 84%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

21.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 87.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.5% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 88.9% (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
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
97.5%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2015
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2017
ELA
87%
2018
Math
92%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
92%
ELA
77%
2020*
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2021*
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
90.8%
ELA
91.3%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How Harding Avenue Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.3/10
87th percentile in VA
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
8.2/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
22%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.6%

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

429 Harding Avenue, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Harding Avenue Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Kipps Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Margaret Beeks Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Gilbert Linkous Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Blacksburg, see our Blacksburg schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.9 mi
School Distance Rating
DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Blacksburg 0.3 mi 5.8
Gilbert Linkous Elementary Blacksburg 0.8 mi 7.5
Margaret Beeks Elementary Blacksburg 1.5 mi 8.2
BLACKSBURG NEW SCHOOL Blacksburg 2.3 mi 6.2
VALLEY CLASSICAL SCHOOL Blacksburg 2.0 mi 4.7
ST JOHN NEUMANN ACADEMY Blacksburg 2.6 mi 6.4
TALL OAKS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Blacksburg 2.4 mi
MOUNTAIN VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Blacksburg 2.5 mi 6.0
Kipps Elementary Blacksburg 2.8 mi 8.4
Blacksburg High Blacksburg 3.1 mi 8.3
Blacksburg Middle Blacksburg 3.1 mi 7.2
Prices Fork Elementary Blacksburg 4.8 mi 6.8
Christiansburg High Christiansburg 6.1 mi 7.0
Christiansburg Elementary Christiansburg 6.9 mi 7.3
Christiansburg Primary Christiansburg 7.1 mi 6.9
Christiansburg Middle Christiansburg 7.8 mi 5.0
Falling Branch Elementary Christiansburg 7.8 mi 6.4
Belview Elementary Radford 7.1 mi 5.6
Riverlawn Elementary Fairlawn 10.2 mi 6.1
Shawsville Middle Shawsville 9.9 mi 4.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24060 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,496

Median Home Value

$412,300

Median Rent

$1,266/mo

Population

48,197

College Educated

63.4%

Homeownership

42.2%

Avg Commute

16 min

Poverty Rate

33.7%

Median Age

27.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ST ANTHONY OF PADUA SCHOOL Falls Church, VA 8.3
Sherman Elementary Mclean, VA 8.3
Snow Creek Elementary Penhook, VA 8.3
St. Paul Cana, VA 8.3
Vienna Elementary Vienna, VA 8.3
Back Creek Elementary Roanoke, VA 8.4

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
74 Very Walkable
Transit Score
44 Some Transit
Bike Score
87 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
282
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
21.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Montgomery County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.6%

District

Montgomery County Public Schools
District Enrollment
9,534
Schools in District
21
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,114
District Rank
#4 of 19

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