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Bessie Weller Elementary

Q: Is Bessie Weller Elementary a good school?

Bessie Weller Elementary ranks 428 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

428^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Bessie Weller Elementary is a K-5 school in Staunton, VA, serving 373 students in the Staunton City Public Schools district, and it has transformed itself from a near-bottom-performing school into a solidly middle-to-upper-tier Virginia elementary school over the past decade. A decade ago, the school ranked in the bottom 6th percentile statewide; by 2025-26, it had climbed to the 61st percentile, an unusually consistent pattern of schoolwide improvement.

What makes Bessie Weller stand out is its exceptional work with students who face the greatest challenges. The school ranks 9th out of 420 Virginia schools for effectiveness with disabled students — the 98th percentile — and its low-income students perform in the 86th percentile statewide. Chronic absenteeism has fallen dramatically from a pandemic-era high of 31.7% to just 8.0%, well below the state average of 14.8%. Bessie Weller exceeded state proficiency rates in nearly every tested subject in 2025-26, including 3rd grade reading (80.4% vs. 67.6% statewide) and 5th grade science (83.1% vs. 68.8% statewide). The school also maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 12.0-to-1 and spends about $10,913 per student, higher than most schools in the Augusta County Public Schools district, which range from roughly $7,600 to $8,300 per student.

That said, Bessie Weller still trails its same-district peers. Thomas C. McSwain Elementary and Arthur R. Ware Elementary both rank higher statewide, and Bessie Weller's 4th grade reading proficiency fell from 78.2% to 69.2%, the school's only tested area below the state average. Outcomes for African American students have also declined over the past three years. However, Bessie Weller outperforms most of its neighbors in the Augusta County Public Schools and Waynesboro City Public Schools districts, and its consistent upward trajectory suggests the school's leadership and instructional strategies are working. If it can address the upper-elementary reading gap and ensure gains reach all student groups, Bessie Weller is well positioned to keep climbing.

373

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,913

Per pupil spending ?

83.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

600 Greenville Ave
Staunton, VA 24401-4873

(540) 332-3940

District: Staunton City Public Schools

Students who attend Bessie Weller Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Shelburne Middle
High:	Staunton High

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.4%

Two or more races:

16.6%

African American:

14.7%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Bessie Weller Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 6th percentile in 2016 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (78% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 55 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Virginia median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school78%

District avg81%

Virginia avg72%

428^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 55 pts since 2016

From bottom 6% (2016) to top 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Staunton City Public Schools

25^th of 131Staunton City 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
2026	63.9	428 of 1111	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.4	470 of 1110	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.6	528 of 1114	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.4	570 of 1114	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.3	721 of 1109	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.8	751 of 1103	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	787 of 1105	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.0	981 of 1097	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	15.5	1010 of 1099	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	12.7	1030 of 1096	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	3.8	1089 of 1100	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	17.5	1031 of 1110	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	21.2	985 of 1120	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	6.6	1101 of 1117	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	8.2	1095 of 1117	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	25.3	990 of 1113	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	36.5	838 of 1082	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	53.5	552 of 1081	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	59.0	441 of 1083	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.8	522 of 1071	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	35.5	800 of 1062	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	42.8	379 of 591	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	65.7	180 of 579	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	82.5	63 of 588	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	82.5	62 of 579	89.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	91.0	9 of 420	97.9%	★★★★★
2024	59.2	153 of 355	56.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	67.2	367 of 1100	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.6	481 of 1096	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.1	595 of 1098	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.0	596 of 1100	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	64.7	200 of 619	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	77.0	145 of 1040	86.1%	★★★★☆
2025	73.4	208 of 1046	80.1%	★★★★☆
2024	73.8	204 of 1036	80.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	514 of 1099	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.9	459 of 1093	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	483 of 1101	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.2	561 of 1093	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	65.7	108 of 306	64.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	60.4	407 of 974	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.2	647 of 973	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	686 of 979	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.2	741 of 984	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2026)98th percentile+36 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)86th percentile+25 vs school

Hispanic (2026)68th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile+5 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)65th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)58th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)53rd percentile-8 vs school

African American (2026)36th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Science83%+14 vs state

Mathematics79%+6 vs state

English Reading74%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bessie Weller Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL VA Studies (2026)	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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bessie Weller Elementary	Public	K-5	600 Greenville Ave	Staunton	24401	Staunton city	Staunton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 332-3940	373	31	12.0	83.1%	203 (54.4%)	55 (14.7%)	44 (11.8%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	62 (16.6%)	63.9	428^th of 1111 public elementary schools	61.5%		60.4	470^th of 1110 public elementary schools	57.7%	42	82.1	75.6	81.4	83.1	80.4	69.2	74.6		$10,913	$1,579	$9,334
Thomas C. McSwain Elementary	Public	K-5	1101 N Coalter St	Staunton	24401	Staunton city	Staunton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 332-3936	449	31	14.4	84.9%	316 (70.4%)	50 (11.1%)	34 (7.6%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.0%)	78.4	222^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	80.0%		84.1	143^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	87.1%	79	81.5	87.0	88.4	84.7	73.9	83.7	84.9		$9,745	$850	$8,895
Arthur R. Ware Elementary	Public	K-5	330 Grubert Avenue	Staunton	24401	Staunton city	Staunton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 332-3938	372	31	12.0	83.3%	216 (58.1%)	40 (10.8%)	44 (11.8%)	4 (1.1%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	62 (16.7%)	71.3	333^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	70.0%		58.7	495^th of 1110 public elementary schools	55.4%	162	86.8	83.7	83.6	80.0	72.1	75.5	80.0		$11,600	$1,209	$10,391
Wilson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	127 Woodrow Wilson Ave	Fishersville	22939	Augusta County	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 245-5040	655	44	14.8	82.0%	431 (65.8%)	67 (10.2%)	72 (11.0%)	19 (2.9%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (9.3%)	27.6	871^st of 1111 public elementary schools	21.6%		44.6	669^th of 1110 public elementary schools	39.7%	202	64.7	62.0	56.1	68.2	54.1	61.1	54.6	70.7	$7,959	$305	$7,654
Stuarts Draft Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	63 School Blvd	Stuarts Draft	24477	Augusta County	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 337-2951	646	40	16.1	69.3%	479 (74.1%)	31 (4.8%)	64 (9.9%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	67 (10.4%)	44.5	684^th of 1111 public elementary schools	38.4%		54.4	546^th of 1110 public elementary schools	50.8%	138	81.6	74.5	60.4	61.5	61.6	71.3	69.8	69.9	$8,313	$662	$7,651
Churchville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3710 Churchville Ave	Churchville	24421	Augusta County	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 337-6036	448	30	14.9	66.7%	416 (92.9%)	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	19 (4.2%)	38.7	748^th of 1111 public elementary schools	32.7%		31.3	813^th of 1110 public elementary schools	26.8%	65	69.7	79.7	59.4	62.3	53.0	79.7	53.6	74.6	$8,149	$554	$7,595
Guy K. Stump Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	115 Draft Ave	Stuarts Draft	24477	Augusta County	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 337-1549	457	30	15.2	66.7%	376 (82.3%)	18 (3.9%)	20 (4.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (8.8%)	48	632^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	43.1%		34	785^th of 1110 public elementary schools	29.3%	153	79.4	63.0	75.4	72.3	64.7	75.7	66.2	66.7	$8,072	$369	$7,703
Riverheads Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	239 Don Hanger Circle	Staunton	24401	Staunton city	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 337-2535	714	46	15.5	72.8%	627 (87.8%)	17 (2.4%)	22 (3.1%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (5.9%)	44.5	686^th of 1111 public elementary schools	38.3%		41.3	708^th of 1110 public elementary schools	36.2%	22	68.7	71.4	66.1	75.4	61.6	68.3	66.1	74.2	$8,125	$508	$7,618
Edward G. Clymore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	184 Fort Defiance Rd	Fort Defiance	24437	Augusta County	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 245-5043	803	50	16.0	68.1%	615 (76.6%)	24 (3.0%)	120 (14.9%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (4.9%)	35.1	787^th of 1111 public elementary schools	29.2%		38.1	738^th of 1110 public elementary schools	33.5%	49	79.8	61.7	57.8	59.2	70.0	64.8	66.0	57.4	$7,565	$460	$7,105
Westwood Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	548 Rosser Ave	Waynesboro	22980	Waynesboro city	Waynesboro City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 946-4670	382	33	11.5	94.5%	198 (51.8%)	59 (15.4%)	76 (19.9%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (11.0%)	40.8	725^th of 1111 public elementary schools	34.7%		44.2	673^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	39.4%	52	57.3	73.2	60.9	73.4	53.4	78.6	62.3	77.9	$11,273	$349	$10,924

Frequently Asked Questions about Bessie Weller Elementary

Is Bessie Weller Elementary a good school?

Bessie Weller Elementary ranks 428^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Bessie Weller Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bessie Weller Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shelburne Middle
High : Staunton High

What district is Bessie Weller Elementary in?

Staunton City Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Bessie Weller Elementary?

Students at Bessie Weller Elementary are 54% White, 17% Two or more races, 15% African American, 12% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Bessie Weller Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 373 students attended Bessie Weller Elementary.

Rate Bessie Weller Elementary!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

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.