Westlawn Elementary

Summary:

Westlawn Elementary is a public elementary school in Falls Church, Virginia, serving 741 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools district, which is ranked 41 out of 130 school districts in Virginia and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Westlawn Elementary faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 10-15% of Virginia elementary schools. The school has a much higher percentage of Hispanic students (70.72%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 11.22% to 61.24% Hispanic students. Westlawn's subgroups, such as Hispanic students, English Language Learners, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, perform significantly worse than their peers at surrounding schools like Mason Crest Elementary, Beech Tree Elementary, and Timber Lane Elementary. Westlawn's proficiency rates on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments are consistently lower than the Fairfax County Public Schools and Virginia state averages across all grade levels and subject areas.

One notable exception is Oak Street Elementary, which is part of the Falls Church City Public Schools district. This school consistently outperforms Westlawn Elementary and the other nearby schools, ranking in the top 10-15% of Virginia elementary schools and achieving significantly higher proficiency rates on the SOL assessments. The high percentage of Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students at Westlawn Elementary, as well as potential disparities in funding and resources, may be contributing factors to the school's lower academic performance.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 3200 Westley Rd
       Falls Church, VA  22042


(703) 241-5100

District: Fairfax County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1073rd of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,258 Help


Students who attend Westlawn Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Jackson Middle
High:    Falls Church High

Student/teacher ratio:  14.3 Help
Number of students:  741

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
70.7%
White:
14.2%
Asian:
10.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  67.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Westlawn Elementary ranks worse than 96.3% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 130th among 137 ranked elementary schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.69. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Westlawn Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Fairfax County Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Westlawn Elementary is $11,258. 78 elementary schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Westlawn Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Westlawn Elementary 1073rd of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Westlawn Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Fairfax County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairfax County Public Schools 41st of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Westlawn Elementary.

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Rank History for Westlawn Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 47.74 615th 1062 42.1%
2006 56.47 494th 1071 53.9%
2007 43.11 705th 1083 34.9%
2008 68.77 292nd 1081 73.0%
2009 43.92 726th 1082 32.9%
2010 43.26 778th 1113 30.1%
2011 48.36 652nd 1117 41.6%
2012 42.50 745th 1117 33.3%
2013 27.79 904th 1120 19.3%
2014 32.75 858th 1110 22.7%
2015 21.88 963rd 1100 12.5%
2016 21.11 973rd 1096 11.2%
2017 25.82 937th 1099 14.7%
2018 25.48 922nd 1097 16.0%
2019 20.45 975th 1105 11.8%
2021 9.17 1019th 1103 7.6%
2022 17.05 966th 1109 12.9%
2023 13.91 989th 1114 11.2%
2024 5.69 1073rd 1114 3.7%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 23.10 257th 300 14.3%
2024 13.83 299th 306 2.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 9.19 1001st 1036 3.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 11.58 1009th 1100 8.3%
2024 5.63 1060th 1098 3.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 20.22 323rd 355 9.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 18.05 947th 1093 13.4%
2024 7.04 1063rd 1101 3.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 22.51 197th 230 14.3%
2024 26.61 198th 238 16.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 14.89 515th 564 8.7%
2024 7.61 563rd 580 2.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Westlawn Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 57.04 456th 984 53.7%
2024 47.21 593rd 979 39.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Westlawn Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.7)
67%

33%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, February 1, 2019

Open Quote Great staff. Lots of challenges that come with title 1 but overall I couldn’t be more pleased. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, May 6, 2016

Open Quote I would like to echo the thoughts of the previous reviewer. To me it is insanity to judge a school solely by test scores, but many of the wealthier, more-highly-educated denizens of the DC area throw their critical thinking out the window when it comes to schools. They look at the number on this site or greatschools and that's it. I'll avoid a full rant about whether standardized tests are even accurate when it comes to measuring intelligence and aptitude. Beyond that, however, the test scores themselves are more nuanced. Simply put, the average scores are dragged down by kids who are simultaneously learning English as a second language AND learning the actual lesson plans (taught in English, of course). Kids at Westlawn who speak English as a first language actually do the same or better than schools with higher ratings.

And do parents with JDs, MDs, PhDs, and MAs REALLY think their child will end up undereducated because they attended a diverse school? Again, this is madness. By falling for the flawed, ratings-based approach, these parents are pushing their kids into less diverse schools full of overparented, overscheduled Whole Foods kids. In doing so, they are denying their children an enormous opportunity to get a real education - to meet people who aren't exactly like them, come from different backgrounds, have less resources. This is a crucial component of developing empathy and a sense of citizenship.

Bottom line, Westlawn is an excellent school that serves the needs of all the kids in the community, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, or national origin. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, February 6, 2012

Open Quote Westlawn, based on some facts may appear not be a great a school. Yes, more than half of the students are on free or reduced lunch, yes there is a large English as a second language student population and no the test scores are not the highest in the county. Upon closer examination you will find that Westlawn is a fantastic school. So here is what is so great about Westlawn:
1. The school is really run with an open door policy. Unlike my experience in other FCPS, you can always get in to talk to anyone including administrators and they are happy to hear your opinion and guide you with your child's education.
2. What ever difference you want to make, you will find support from the teachers.
3. Children are not allowed to bully. Yes, this is supposed to be true of all schools, but it isn't always true.
4. They have GT level classes in your neighborhood school. This allows children the opportunity to learn on an advanced level without removing them from their community (I took one of my children out of the GT Center and enrolled her at Westlawn when we moved into the Westlawn district.)
5. Children are exposed to a vast number of cultures through their own student body. This is something Westlawn is proud of too.
6. Renovations are complete and now the school is modern and updated and large enough to accommodate its growing population.
7. Westlawn is a true community. Every child that graduates from Westlawn can tell you about all the different people in the Westlawn community. From the custodian to the principal, adults are always mentoring the children.
8. Westlawn has made some excellent partners within the community from businesses to places of worship. These partnerships ensure Westlawn's students needs are met. Sometimes, those needs go beyond the school day to home and are still meet. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Westlawn Elementary

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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 571 571
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 554 554
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 593 593
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 609 609
1993 292 20 132 143 5 n/a n/a 0 592
1994 276 25 131 126 4 n/a n/a 0 562
1995 228 17 133 147 1 n/a n/a 0 526
1996 228 17 133 147 1 n/a n/a 0 526
1997 238 19 142 148 0 n/a n/a 0 547
1998 234 18 143 159 0 n/a n/a 0 554
1999 218 20 163 168 3 n/a n/a 0 572
2000 202 23 170 197 4 n/a n/a -4 592
2001 204 14 173 207 4 n/a n/a 0 602
2002 151 16 163 260 5 n/a n/a 28 623
2003 151 16 163 260 5 n/a n/a 28 623
2004 123 12 153 266 4 n/a n/a 30 588
2005 110 20 140 276 1 n/a n/a 28 575
2006 97 12 137 287 1 n/a n/a 28 562
2007 90 17 130 297 1 n/a n/a 32 567
2008 95 21 152 323 1 n/a n/a 35 627
2009 90 16 154 350 0 n/a n/a 44 654
2010 81 18 173 396 4 n/a n/a 47 719
2011 71 12 188 408 5 0 18 0 702
2012 75 12 180 446 9 0 16 0 738
2013 75 20 196 424 8 0 15 0 738
2014 67 23 185 462 5 0 21 0 763
2015 91 25 163 456 8 0 22 0 765
2016 90 27 159 516 7 0 26 0 825
2017 89 27 146 541 5 0 28 0 836
2018 97 21 139 527 7 0 21 0 812
2019 116 24 129 521 7 0 15 0 812
2020 110 12 115 556 6 1 21 0 821
2021 111 10 110 556 4 1 13 0 805
2022 108 12 84 540 2 0 10 0 756
2023 105 15 79 524 5 0 13 0 741

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 Westlawn Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 571 33.3 17.1 n/a
1990 554 35.5 15.6 n/a
1991 593 37.4 15.8 n/a
1992 609 38.1 15.9 n/a
1993 592 37.4 15.8 n/a
1994 562 33.8 n/a 28.3
1995 526 n/a 0.0 29.5
1996 526 n/a 0.0 29.5
1997 547 n/a 0.0 22.9
1998 554 n/a 0.0 24.2
1999 572 37.5 15.3 36.7
2000 592 n/a 0.0 36.6
2001 602 41.5 14.5 36.7
2002 623 61.8 10.1 39.3
2003 623 61.8 10.1 39.3
2004 588 55.0 10.7 44.1
2005 575 51.0 11.3 49
2006 562 53.0 10.6 48.1
2007 567 60.3 9.4 50.7
2008 627 45.7 13.7 52.5
2009 654 46.5 14.1 59.5
2010 719 43.0 16.7 62.1
2011 702 49.0 14.3 60.3
2012 738 54.4 13.5 64.1
2013 738 53.0 13.9 64.8
2014 763 54.5 14.0 66.8
2015 765 55.0 13.9 66
2016 825 54.0 15.2 66.1
2017 836 59.6 14.0 64.2
2018 812 59.7 13.5 67.7
2019 812 61.0 13.2 69.8
2020 821 58.1 14.1 69.5
2021 805 60.6 13.2 n/a
2022 756 63.3 11.9 75.5
2023 741 51.5 14.3 67.7

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 Westlawn Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 571 33.3 17.1 n/a
1990 554 35.5 15.6 n/a
1991 593 37.4 15.8 n/a
1992 609 38.1 15.9 n/a
1993 592 37.4 15.8 n/a
1994 562 33.8 n/a 28.3
1995 526 n/a 0.0 29.5
1996 526 n/a 0.0 29.5
1997 547 n/a 0.0 22.9
1998 554 n/a 0.0 24.2
1999 572 37.5 15.3 36.7
2000 592 n/a 0.0 36.6
2001 602 41.5 14.5 36.7
2002 623 61.8 10.1 39.3
2003 623 61.8 10.1 39.3
2004 588 55.0 10.7 44.1
2005 575 51.0 11.3 49
2006 562 53.0 10.6 48.1
2007 567 60.3 9.4 50.7
2008 627 45.7 13.7 52.5
2009 654 46.5 14.1 59.5
2010 719 43.0 16.7 62.1
2011 702 49.0 14.3 60.3
2012 738 54.4 13.5 64.1
2013 738 53.0 13.9 64.8
2014 763 54.5 14.0 66.8
2015 765 55.0 13.9 66
2016 825 54.0 15.2 66.1
2017 836 59.6 14.0 64.2
2018 812 59.7 13.5 67.7
2019 812 61.0 13.2 69.8
2020 821 58.1 14.1 69.5
2021 805 60.6 13.2 n/a
2022 756 63.3 11.9 75.5
2023 741 51.5 14.3 67.7

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 Westlawn Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $665 (6.2%) $10,117 (93.8%) $10,782
2020 $697 (6.4%) $10,128 (93.6%) $10,824
2021 $710 (6.3%) $10,549 (93.7%) $11,258

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Westlawn Elementary

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 975th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 989th of 1114 Elementary schools
 0.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Westlawn Elementary)7045.2
 24.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8571.3
 13.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Westlawn Elementary)4838.7
 9.3%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)7269.6
 2.4%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Westlawn Elementary)7339
 34%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8673.8
 12.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Westlawn Elementary)5151.4
 0.3%
   4th Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)7776.3
 0.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Westlawn Elementary)7442.5
 31.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)7763
 14%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Westlawn Elementary)7346.5
 26.5%
   5th Grade Science (Fairfax County Public Schools)8170.7
 10.3%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Westlawn Elementary)6848.5
 19.6%
   5th Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)8075.6
 4.4%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Westlawn Elementary)8160
 21%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8765.2
 21.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7857.8
 20.2%
6th Grade English Reading (Westlawn Elementary)6859
 9%
   6th Grade English Reading (Fairfax County Public Schools)8378.5
 4.5%
   6th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7770.4
 6.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Westlawn Elementary)100100
   7th Grade Mathematics (Fairfax County Public Schools)8669
 17%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7855
 23%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students812741
 8.7%
African American2415
 37.5%
American Indian75
 28.6%
Asian12979
 38.8%
Hispanic521524
 0.6%
Pacific Islander00
White116105
 9.5%
Two or More Races1513
 13.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients69.8%67.7%
 2.1%


Schools Near Westlawn Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Westlawn Elementary

Students who attend Westlawn Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Jackson Middle
High : Falls Church High

Students at Westlawn Elementary are 71% Hispanic, 14% White, 11% Asian, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Westlawn Elementary ranks in the bottom 3.7% of Virginia elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 741 students attended Westlawn 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.





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