Varnell Elementary School

Summary:

Varnell Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Dalton, Georgia, serving 374 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Whitfield County School District, which is ranked 88 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Varnell Elementary has maintained a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past several years, with its highest ranking being 299 out of 1,234 Georgia elementary schools in the 2018-2019 school year. The school's test scores show some areas of strength, with higher proficiency rates in 3rd grade Math and 4th grade Math compared to the Whitfield County and Georgia averages. However, the school's performance in English Language Arts and 5th grade Science lags behind the district and state averages. Varnell Elementary also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 65.51% in the 2022-2023 school year, which is higher than the state average.

When comparing Varnell Elementary to other nearby schools in the Whitfield County district, Tunnel Hill Elementary and Cohutta Elementary consistently outperform Varnell on state assessments, particularly in English Language Arts and Math. On the other hand, Dawnville Elementary and Beaverdale Elementary have lower proficiency rates than Varnell across most subject areas. Despite Varnell Elementary's relatively consistent per-student spending, the school's academic performance lags behind some of the higher-spending nearby schools, suggesting that factors beyond just funding may play a significant role in student outcomes.


Detail:

Public K-5

 3900 Cleveland Rd
       Dalton, GA  30721


(706) 694-3471

District: Whitfield County

SchoolDigger Rank:
555th of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools


Students who attend Varnell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    North Whitfield Middle School
High:    Coahulla Creek High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.2 Help
Number of students:  374

Racial breakdown:

White:
58.3%
Hispanic:
34.2%
Two or more races:
4.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  65.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Varnell Elementary School ranks better than 55.5% of elementary schools in Georgia. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.98. (See more...)
Finance
Schooldigger Rankings:

Varnell Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Whitfield County:

SchoolDigger ranks Whitfield County 88th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Varnell Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools GA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 46.54 679th 1101 38.3%
2007 67.13 389th 1125 65.4%
2008 60.11 498th 1134 56.1%
2009 58.52 514th 1133 54.6%
2010 59.88 538th 1183 54.5%
2011 56.27 630th 1212 48.0%
2012 66.38 457th 1201 61.9%
2013 70.72 380th 1225 69.0%
2014 66.11 482nd 1231 60.8%
2015 54.43 525th 1240 57.7%
2016 50.48 559th 1233 54.7%
2017 53.63 501st 1205 58.4%
2018 49.39 566th 1209 53.2%
2019 72.56 299th 1234 75.8%
2021 54.78 502nd 1214 58.6%
2022 52.13 541st 1244 56.5%
2023 54.49 512th 1242 58.8%
2024 50.98 555th 1248 55.5%
See the entire list of Georgia Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Varnell Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a citizen
Thursday, May 21, 2015

Open Quote Great leadership. Well qualified teachers who work toward bringing out the best in their students in every area. The atmosphere is always inviting and the school feels homey and safe. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Varnell Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 586 586
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 616 616
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 616 616
1993 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 652 652
1994 673 17 3 8 1 n/a n/a 0 702
1995 683 14 4 15 2 n/a n/a 0 718
1996 683 14 4 15 2 n/a n/a 0 718
1997 706 12 2 31 3 n/a n/a 0 754
1998 691 12 2 37 3 n/a n/a 0 745
1999 669 12 2 54 2 n/a n/a 0 739
2000 650 16 2 62 2 n/a n/a 0 732
2001 468 5 2 43 0 n/a n/a 0 518
2002 472 17 5 97 0 n/a n/a 0 591
2003 472 17 5 97 0 n/a n/a 0 591
2004 450 14 5 108 0 n/a n/a 0 577
2005 422 17 4 142 1 n/a n/a 25 611
2006 432 17 5 163 0 n/a n/a 28 645
2007 309 16 5 193 0 n/a n/a 20 543
2008 290 19 5 204 0 n/a n/a 25 543
2009 292 8 4 206 0 n/a n/a 20 530
2010 255 11 4 220 2 0 11 0 503
2011 225 22 2 209 1 0 15 0 474
2012 251 18 4 178 0 0 21 0 472
2013 275 16 3 165 2 0 25 0 486
2014 266 18 6 165 2 0 25 0 482
2015 277 13 6 165 2 0 22 0 485
2016 254 12 4 150 2 0 18 0 440
2017 239 6 4 145 2 0 18 0 414
2018 239 5 5 163 2 0 13 0 427
2019 236 2 1 159 0 0 15 0 413
2020 234 5 5 144 1 0 16 0 405
2021 203 5 8 137 2 0 15 0 370
2022 210 6 7 132 1 0 17 0 373
2023 218 3 8 128 2 0 15 0 374

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Varnell Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 586 32.0 18.3 16.4
1991 616 31.0 19.8 22.1
1992 616 30.5 20.1 28.1
1993 652 30.0 21.7 30.4
1994 702 36.6 19.2 32.5
1995 718 38.5 18.6 25.5
1996 718 38.5 18.6 25.5
1997 754 42.5 17.7 32.9
1998 745 43.0 17.3 34
1999 739 42.4 17.4 32.9
2000 732 39.5 18.5 35.5
2001 518 31.6 16.4 28.6
2002 591 36.0 16.4 40.4
2003 591 36.0 16.4 40.4
2004 577 38.5 15.0 41.4
2005 611 36.7 16.6 50.9
2006 645 45.4 14.2 52.2
2007 543 39.6 13.7 57.4
2008 543 38.4 14.1 61.4
2009 530 39.0 13.6 61.4
2010 503 34.5 14.5 67.2
2011 474 32.3 14.6 70
2012 472 30.5 15.4 68.6
2013 486 32.5 14.9 67.7
2014 482 32.5 14.8 65.6
2015 485 31.0 15.6 65.4
2016 440 29.0 15.1 66.4
2017 414 29.5 14.0 66.7
2018 427 30.5 14.0 71.2
2019 413 28.6 14.4 68.3
2020 405 29.3 13.8 70.4
2021 370 29.5 12.5 65.1
2022 373 27.7 13.4 n/a
2023 374 28.3 13.2 65.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Varnell Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 586 32.0 18.3 16.4
1991 616 31.0 19.8 22.1
1992 616 30.5 20.1 28.1
1993 652 30.0 21.7 30.4
1994 702 36.6 19.2 32.5
1995 718 38.5 18.6 25.5
1996 718 38.5 18.6 25.5
1997 754 42.5 17.7 32.9
1998 745 43.0 17.3 34
1999 739 42.4 17.4 32.9
2000 732 39.5 18.5 35.5
2001 518 31.6 16.4 28.6
2002 591 36.0 16.4 40.4
2003 591 36.0 16.4 40.4
2004 577 38.5 15.0 41.4
2005 611 36.7 16.6 50.9
2006 645 45.4 14.2 52.2
2007 543 39.6 13.7 57.4
2008 543 38.4 14.1 61.4
2009 530 39.0 13.6 61.4
2010 503 34.5 14.5 67.2
2011 474 32.3 14.6 70
2012 472 30.5 15.4 68.6
2013 486 32.5 14.9 67.7
2014 482 32.5 14.8 65.6
2015 485 31.0 15.6 65.4
2016 440 29.0 15.1 66.4
2017 414 29.5 14.0 66.7
2018 427 30.5 14.0 71.2
2019 413 28.6 14.4 68.3
2020 405 29.3 13.8 70.4
2021 370 29.5 12.5 65.1
2022 373 27.7 13.4 n/a
2023 374 28.3 13.2 65.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Varnell Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017 $410 (4.2%) $9,423 (95.8%) $9,834
2018 $359 (3.7%) $9,466 (96.3%) $9,825
2019 $551 (5.2%) $10,044 (94.8%) $10,594

Data source: Georgia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Varnell Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 299th of 1234 Elementary schoolsRanks 512th of 1242 Elementary schools
 17%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Varnell Elementary School)38.726.9
 11.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Whitfield County)42.735
 7.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4238.6
 3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Varnell Elementary School)74.247.8
 26.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Whitfield County)53.143.2
 9.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)5245.6
 6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Varnell Elementary School)42.137.8
 4.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Whitfield County)39.532.5
 7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4236.1
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Varnell Elementary School)59.244.6
 14.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Whitfield County)49.641.3
 8.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)4945.7
 3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Varnell Elementary School)56.746.8
 9.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Whitfield County)42.835
 7.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4541.6
 3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Varnell Elementary School)56.738.7
 18%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Whitfield County)37.932.1
 5.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)4137.4
 3.6%
5th Grade Science (Varnell Elementary School)52.239.3
 12.9%
   5th Grade Science (Whitfield County)40.834.5
 6.3%
   5th Grade Science (Georgia)4340
 3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students413374
 9.4%
African American23
 50%
American Indian02
Asian18
 700%
Hispanic159128
 19.5%
Pacific Islander00
White236218
 7.6%
Two or More Races1515
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients68.3%65.5%
 2.8%


Schools Near Varnell Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Varnell Elementary School

Varnell Elementary School ranks 555th of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Varnell Elementary School are 58% White, 34% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Students who attend Varnell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : North Whitfield Middle School
High : Coahulla Creek High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 374 students attended Varnell Elementary School.


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





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