Excellent
#191 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 10% in state
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
Elementary School · Bedford County Public Schools · Forest, VA
A Bedford County Public Schools elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1255 Patriot Place, Forest, VA 24551
- Math 92% vs VA 72% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thomas Jefferson Elementary score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 82%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2019, reaching 89% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 82% (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 34 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
28.1%
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 Thomas Jefferson 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 23Car-Dependent
- Bike 24Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | PK–5 | 1.7 mi | 362 | Compare → |
| Timberlake Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | 4.2private | PK–12 | 2.0 mi | 397 | Compare → |
| Tomahawk ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | PK–5 | 2.9 mi | 679 | Compare → |
| The Branches Academy & Early Learning CenterPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–2 | 3.2 mi | 43 | 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
- #2 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
Thomas Jefferson Elementary is listed in Bedford County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thomas Jefferson Elementary
Thomas Jefferson Elementary is a public elementary school in Forest, VA, part of Bedford County Public Schools, serving approximately 540 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #191 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thomas Jefferson Elementary
What grades does Thomas Jefferson Elementary serve?
Thomas Jefferson Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thomas Jefferson Elementary?
Thomas Jefferson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 540 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Elementary is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thomas Jefferson Elementary rank in VA?
Thomas Jefferson Elementary ranks #191 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Thomas Jefferson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Thomas Jefferson 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 Thomas Jefferson Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas Jefferson Elementary has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thomas Jefferson Elementary a charter school?
No, Thomas Jefferson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thomas Jefferson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Thomas Jefferson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas Jefferson Elementary?
28.1% of students at Thomas Jefferson 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
- 540
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Bedford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.9%
- Phone
- (434) 534-6159
- 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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