Excellent
#210 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 11% in state
Penn Forest Elementary
Elementary School · Roanoke County Public Schools · Roanoke, VA
A Roanoke County Public Schools elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
6328 Merriman Rd, Roanoke, VA 24018
- Math 92% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 92% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 14:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Penn Forest Elementary score 92% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 83%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 92% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 89% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 90% (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
27.8%
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 Penn 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 30Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,717/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Roanoke), 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
$90,383
Median home value
$327,600
Median rent
$1,221/mo
College educated
53.1%
Homeownership
73.8%
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24018; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cave Spring ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 502 | Compare → |
| North Cross SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | PK–12 | 1.5 mi | 514 | Compare → |
| Green Valley ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | 2.0 mi | 493 | Compare → |
| Clearbrook ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–5 | 2.6 mi | 306 | 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.
Roanoke County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 29
- Rank in district
- #3 of 26
- District spending per student
- $13,365NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Penn Forest Elementary is listed in Roanoke County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Penn Forest Elementary
Penn Forest Elementary is a public elementary school in Roanoke, VA, part of Roanoke County Public Schools, serving approximately 406 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #210 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 89% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 90% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Penn Forest Elementary
What grades does Penn Forest Elementary serve?
Penn Forest Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Penn Forest Elementary?
Penn Forest Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 406 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penn Forest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Penn Forest Elementary is 14:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Penn Forest Elementary rank in VA?
Penn Forest Elementary ranks #210 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Penn Forest Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Penn Forest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 Penn Forest Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Penn Forest Elementary has 89% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 90% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Penn Forest Elementary a charter school?
No, Penn Forest Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Penn Forest Elementary a Title I school?
No, Penn Forest Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Penn Forest Elementary?
27.8% of students at Penn 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
- 406
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Roanoke County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.6%
- Phone
- (540) 772-7590
- Area population (ZIP 24018)
- 38,835
- Area average commute
- 21.3 min
- Area median age
- 44.2
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 24018; 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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