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Excellent

#57 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 3% in state

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary

Elementary School · Staunton City Public Schools

1101 N Coalter St, Staunton, VA 24401

Enrollment

429

Student-Teacher

13.8:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#57 of 1,851

In Staunton

#1 of 10

public schools

In district

#1 of 6

Staunton City Public Schools

Equity

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary

9.1/10

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

Staunton High

7.0/10

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

Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind High

7.2/10

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

About Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary is a public elementary school in Staunton, VA, part of Staunton City Public Schools. Thomas C.

Mcswain Elementary serves approximately 429 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #57 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.6
  • 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-0.06 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency90% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency84% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+16.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.3 pts
Overall Proficiency87% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)68% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+18.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment8.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,422
Chronic Absenteeism10%

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary — Students at Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary score 87% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

81.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 81.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.5% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 80.7% (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
88%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
66%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
68%
ELA
71%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
70%
2014
Math
85%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
83%
ELA
79%
2016
Math
86%
ELA
78%
2017
ELA
80%
2018
Math
90%
ELA
82%
2019
Math
90%
ELA
82%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2025
Math
90.5%
ELA
84%

* 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 Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary Compares

See how Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
97th percentile in VA
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
8.5/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
81%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.0%

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

1101 N Coalter St, Staunton, VA 24401

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Bessie Weller Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Arthur R. Ware Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 2.3 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, C.F. RICHARDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 5.9/10, 2.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Staunton, see our Staunton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Staunton High Staunton 0.3 mi 7.0
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind High Staunton 1.0 mi 7.2
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Middle Staunton 1.0 mi
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Elementary Staunton 1.0 mi
ELK HILL STAUNTON SCHOOL Staunton 1.1 mi 6.2
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Staunton 1.2 mi 5.7
STUART HALL SCHOOL Staunton 1.4 mi 7.9
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE Staunton 1.4 mi 5.8
Bessie Weller Elementary Staunton 1.9 mi 8.8
Staunton City School PreSchool Programs Staunton 1.8 mi 3.3
C.F. RICHARDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Staunton 2.4 mi 5.9
Arthur R. Ware Elementary Staunton 2.3 mi 7.8
Shelburne Middle Staunton 2.3 mi 6.1
Beverley Manor Middle Staunton 3.6 mi 5.4
Wilson Middle Fishersville 4.8 mi 5.3
Wilson Elementary Fishersville 5.0 mi 4.5
Wilson Memorial High Fishersville 4.9 mi 7.2
S. Gordon Stewart Middle Fort Defiance 7.1 mi 5.5
Edward G. Clymore Elementary Fort Defiance 7.2 mi 5.5
Fort Defiance High Fort Defiance 7.3 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24401 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,746

Median Home Value

$253,700

Median Rent

$1,002/mo

Population

37,720

College Educated

32.2%

Homeownership

63.6%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

11.3%

Median Age

44.6

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Colonial Elementary Troutville, VA 9.1
Discovery Elementary Arlington, VA 9.1
Rural Retreat Elementary Rural Retreat, VA 9.1
Brownsville Elementary Crozet, VA 9.2
Crewe Primary Crewe, VA 9.0
Crystal Spring Elementary Roanoke, VA 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary

What grades does Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary serve?

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary?

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 429 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary rank in VA?

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary ranks #57 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary a Title I school?

No, Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas C. Mcswain Elementary?

81.4% of students at Thomas C. Mcswain 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
40 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
19 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
429
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Free/Reduced Lunch
81.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Staunton city
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.0%

District

Staunton City Public Schools
District Enrollment
2,695
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,422
District Rank
#1 of 6

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