Summary:
The city of Blackstone, Virginia is home to a single elementary school, Blackstone Primary, which serves grades PK-4 with a total enrollment of 387 students. The school is part of the Nottoway County Public Schools district, which is ranked 104 out of 130 school districts in Virginia and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Blackstone Primary has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Virginia elementary schools, receiving a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance, as measured by SOL (Standards of Learning) test scores, is significantly below the state and district averages in mathematics, reading, and Virginia Studies. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 3rd-grade mathematics proficiency rate was 47.17%, compared to the state average of 70.11%. Additionally, Blackstone Primary has a very high percentage of students (92.51%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.
Despite these challenges, Blackstone Primary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11.7, which is generally considered a positive factor for student learning. However, the school's below-average spending per student, at $7,961 for the 2020-2021 school year, raises questions about the allocation and utilization of resources within the school and the district. The school's diverse student population, with a majority of African American and Hispanic students, also highlights the need for culturally responsive teaching practices and equity-focused strategies to ensure all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.
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