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Wilderness Elementary

Q: Is Wilderness Elementary a good school?

Wilderness Elementary ranks 801 st of 1110 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

801^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,110 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 28% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Wilderness Elementary is a public elementary school in Spotsylvania, Virginia, serving around 650 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Spotsylvania County Public Schools district, which is ranked 92 out of 129 school districts in the state.

Wilderness Elementary faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 14.6% to 25.6%, which are significantly higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools like Parkside Elementary (15.7%) and Battlefield Elementary (15.7%). The school's test scores in mathematics, reading, and science are also generally below the state and district averages. Additionally, Wilderness Elementary has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 72.77% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to nearby schools like Courtland Elementary (44.05%).

Wilderness Elementary's performance has been declining over time, with its statewide ranking dropping from 446 out of 1,103 Virginia elementary schools in the 2020-2021 school year to 801 out of 1,110 in the 2024-2025 school year. This suggests the school is struggling to keep pace with other schools in the state. The significant disparities in performance between different student subgroups at Wilderness Elementary, particularly for African American and low-socioeconomic status students, also raise concerns about equity and the school's ability to provide a high-quality education for all students.

647

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,151

Per pupil spending ?

72.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

11600 Catharpin Rd
Spotsylvania, VA 22553

(540) 786-9817

District: Spotsylvania County Public Schools

Students who attend Wilderness Elementary usually attend:

High:

Riverbend High

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.4%

Hispanic:

26.3%

African American:

16.4%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Wilderness Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 35th percentile in 2015 → 28th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (63% vs 71% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg65%

Virginia avg71%

801^st of 1,110

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From bottom 35% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^th of 18Elementary Schools in the Spotsylvania County Public Schools

92^nd of 129Spotsylvania County Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	801 of 1110	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.6	710 of 1114	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.5	636 of 1114	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.7	650 of 1109	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.5	446 of 1103	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.4	640 of 1105	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.9	612 of 1097	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.1	666 of 1099	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	52.3	589 of 1096	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	44.5	710 of 1100	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.7	625 of 1110	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.6	794 of 1120	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	53.7	561 of 1117	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.4	554 of 1117	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.4	196 of 1113	82.4%	★★★★☆
2009	65.9	343 of 1082	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	57.5	486 of 1081	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	52.9	554 of 1083	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	28.7	915 of 1071	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	29.7	874 of 1062	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	19.0	529 of 588	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.1	468 of 579	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	27.1	278 of 324	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	27.9	853 of 1096	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	789 of 1098	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.8	722 of 1100	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	38.9	391 of 606	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.3	379 of 580	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.3	348 of 564	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	16.7	952 of 1046	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	840 of 1036	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	38.3	736 of 1093	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.9	647 of 1101	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.0	564 of 1093	48.4%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	31.6	189 of 245	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	37.3	691 of 973	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	57.3	463 of 979	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.1	476 of 984	51.6%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)35th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)33rd percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)29th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2023)23rd percentile-20 vs school

Female (2025)22nd percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2023)14th percentile-29 vs school

African American (2024)10th percentile-26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)9th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics66%-7 vs state

English Reading64%-6 vs state

VA Studies59%-10 vs state

Science56%-13 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, May 29, 2021

I LOVE wilderness and can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t. Teachers and all staff are amazing. Not much staff turnover at all. Great principal and nice families. The student teacher ratio is wonderful as well as access to any resource needed. Fantastic school. Close Quote

Schools Near Wilderness Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Geometry (2025)	SOL Algebra I (2025)		SOL Mathematics (2025)						SOL Science (2025)		SOL English Reading (2025)						SOL Civics and Economics (2025)	SOL VA Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wilderness Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11600 Catharpin Rd	Spotsylvania	22553	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 786-9817	647	45	14.3	72.3%	281 (43.4%)	106 (16.4%)	170 (26.3%)	11 (1.7%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	73 (11.3%)	33.1	801^st of 1110 public elementary schools	27.8%		41.6	710^th of 1114 public elementary schools	36.3%	91				67.7	63.7	66.7				56.3		62.2	63.7	67.8					58.6	$9,151	$471	$8,679
Chancellor Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5995 Plank Rd	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 786-6123	440	25	17.6	22.5%	265 (60.2%)	47 (10.7%)	77 (17.5%)	13 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	34 (7.7%)	75	289^th of 1110 public elementary schools	74.0%		73.8	297^th of 1114 public elementary schools	73.3%	8				81.7	92.8	82.0				76.4		74.4	82.6	80.7					85.5	$9,446	$243	$9,203
Smith Station Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7320 Smith Station Rd	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 786-5443	715	43	16.6	72.6%	241 (33.7%)	186 (26.0%)	183 (25.6%)	37 (5.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (9.4%)	42.5	691^st of 1110 public elementary schools	37.7%		48.9	631^st of 1114 public elementary schools	43.4%	60				67.3	65.8	70.4				67.8		58.4	71.2	64.0					77.1	$9,191	$294	$8,898
Freedom Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	7315 Smith Station Rd.	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 548-1030	763	61	12.5	65.1%	332 (43.5%)	145 (19.0%)	184 (24.1%)	26 (3.4%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	72 (9.4%)								(n/a)	100.0	100.0	97.6				65.1	55.0	64.3		69.9				70.9	72.3	74.4	74.3		$9,605	$421	$9,184
Brock Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10207 Brock Rd	Spotsylvania	22553	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 972-3870	651	43	15.1	33.0%	384 (59.0%)	65 (10.0%)	116 (17.8%)	11 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	74 (11.4%)	68.8	370^th of 1110 public elementary schools	66.7%		69.5	367^th of 1114 public elementary schools	67.1%	3				76.2	87.4	85.5				71.7		74.3	82.5	72.5					83.5	$8,887	$388	$8,499
Harrison Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6230 Harrison Road	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 548-4864	732	53	13.8	72.8%	217 (29.6%)	120 (16.4%)	315 (43.0%)	23 (3.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (7.5%)	17.5	955^th of 1110 public elementary schools	14.0%		15.1	978^th of 1114 public elementary schools	12.2%	23				67.5	50.0	71.1				40.2		53.3	46.9	49.6					26.6	$9,593	$1,277	$8,316
Battlefield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11108 Leavells Rd	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 786-4532	665	40	16.6	73.4%	218 (32.8%)	106 (15.9%)	255 (38.3%)	31 (4.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (8.0%)	40.1	721^st of 1110 public elementary schools	35.0%		42.8	697^th of 1114 public elementary schools	37.4%	24				69.7	72.0	65.3				65.3		51.8	76.3	65.3					65.3	$8,445	$628	$7,817
Courthouse Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9911 Courthouse Rd	Spotsylvania	22553	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 891-0400	762	52	14.6	73.2%	293 (38.5%)	165 (21.7%)	197 (25.9%)	24 (3.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (10.8%)	38.6	731^st of 1110 public elementary schools	34.1%		50.7	607^th of 1114 public elementary schools	45.5%	124				75.4	69.4	63.9				64.7		61.6	68.0	67.2					50.8	$8,850	$427	$8,423
Courtland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6601 Smith Station Rd	Spotsylvania	22553	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 898-5422	548	37	14.8	40.7%	245 (44.7%)	67 (12.2%)	159 (29.0%)	18 (3.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (10.6%)	46.7	645^th of 1110 public elementary schools	41.9%		60.8	480^th of 1114 public elementary schools	56.9%	165				75.8	78.2	69.6				58.2		59.2	69.2	69.6					74.0	$9,674	$573	$9,101
Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4501 Jackson Rd	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 786-8218	573	42	13.6	64.9%	139 (24.3%)	146 (25.5%)	216 (37.7%)	20 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	49 (8.6%)	28.6	842^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	24.1%		39.7	732^nd of 1114 public elementary schools	34.3%	110				29.7	70.5	66.7				51.4		27.7	73.9	63.6					70.7	$9,880	$1,114	$8,765

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilderness Elementary

Is Wilderness Elementary a good school?

Wilderness Elementary ranks 801^st of 1110 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Wilderness Elementary in?

Spotsylvania County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Wilderness Elementary?

Students at Wilderness Elementary are 43% White, 26% Hispanic, 16% African American, 11% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Wilderness Elementary attend?

Students who attend Wilderness Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Riverbend High

How many students attend Wilderness Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 647 students attended Wilderness Elementary.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.