Blackwell Elementary

Summary:

Blackwell Elementary is a public elementary school in Richmond, Virginia, serving 393 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Richmond City Public Schools district, which is ranked 113 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating.

Blackwell Elementary stands out for several key reasons. It has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (85.5%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 13.2% to 92.7% African American. Academically, Blackwell consistently ranks among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Virginia, with proficiency rates on state tests that are significantly lower than the district and state averages. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was 37.68%, compared to 45.56% for the district and 70.11% for the state. Additionally, Blackwell has an extremely high percentage of students (over 98%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

While Blackwell Elementary has a relatively high per-student spending of around $11,000-$14,600, its academic performance remains poor, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be enough to address the underlying issues. Nearby schools like Cardinal Elementary, George W. Carver Elementary, and Westover Hills Elementary also have high percentages of economically disadvantaged students, but they generally outperform Blackwell Elementary, suggesting that the school may face unique challenges that require a comprehensive, long-term strategy to improve student outcomes and address the underlying social and educational inequities.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 1600 Everett St
       Richmond, VA  23224-3896


(804) 780-5078

District: Richmond City Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1099th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,060 Help


Students who attend Blackwell Elementary usually attend:

High:    Armstrong High
    Franklin Military Academy
    Open High
    Richmond Community High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.5 Help
Number of students:  393

Racial breakdown:

African American:
85.5%
Hispanic:
9.7%
Two or more races:
2.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  98.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Blackwell Elementary ranks worse than 98.7% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 22nd among 26 ranked elementary schools in the Richmond City Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.1. (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 Blackwell Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Richmond City Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Blackwell Elementary is $11,060, which is the 8th highest among 26 elementary schools in the Richmond City Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Blackwell Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Blackwell Elementary 1099th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Blackwell Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Richmond City Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Richmond City Public Schools 113th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Blackwell Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Blackwell Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 41.06 720th 1062 32.2%
2006 7.96 1053rd 1071 1.7%
2007 17.62 1009th 1083 6.8%
2008 14.50 1040th 1081 3.8%
2009 10.06 1060th 1082 2.0%
2010 31.26 936th 1113 15.9%
2011 20.13 1039th 1117 7.0%
2012 7.77 1093rd 1117 2.1%
2013 6.15 1098th 1120 2.0%
2014 12.92 1057th 1110 4.8%
2015 8.01 1070th 1100 2.7%
2016 0.24 1093rd 1096 0.3%
2017 3.47 1081st 1099 1.6%
2018 0.49 1093rd 1097 0.4%
2019 1.10 1091st 1105 1.3%
2021 12.15 995th 1103 9.8%
2022 2.02 1096th 1109 1.2%
2023 1.01 1112th 1114 0.2%
2024 3.10 1099th 1114 1.3%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Blackwell Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 10.25 991st 1036 4.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Blackwell Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 1.79 1094th 1100 0.5%
2024 5.14 1066th 1098 2.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Blackwell Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 0.95 1091st 1093 0.2%
2024 2.40 1091st 1101 0.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Blackwell Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 5.41 571st 579 1.4%
2024 13.46 550th 588 6.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for African American 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.

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





Data source: Virginia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Blackwell Elementary

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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 844 844
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 855 855
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 808 808
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 830 830
1993 5 793 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 802
1994 12 735 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 748
1995 4 743 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 748
1996 4 743 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 748
1997 5 726 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 734
1998 1 729 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 733
1999 2 668 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 674
2000 6 595 0 4 0 n/a n/a -4 601
2001 1 563 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 571
2002 1 505 0 8 0 n/a n/a 0 514
2003 1 505 0 8 0 n/a n/a 0 514
2004 2 476 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 485
2005 1 454 0 6 0 n/a n/a 0 461
2006 0 500 0 10 0 n/a n/a 0 510
2007 6 561 0 4 0 n/a n/a 1 572
2008 3 617 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 627
2009 6 641 0 13 0 n/a n/a 1 661
2010 8 612 1 10 0 n/a n/a 2 633
2011 14 704 1 34 0 0 0 0 753
2012 16 734 2 41 0 1 4 0 798
2013 13 672 0 70 0 1 6 0 762
2014 4 571 0 68 0 1 12 0 656
2015 8 567 4 72 1 0 12 0 664
2016 10 556 28 77 1 0 8 0 680
2017 7 576 26 64 1 0 5 0 679
2018 7 408 15 5 2 0 4 0 441
2019 8 348 9 6 2 0 3 0 376
2020 8 344 7 9 1 0 0 0 369
2021 10 364 8 19 1 0 6 0 408
2022 10 335 1 26 3 0 2 0 377
2023 7 336 1 38 1 0 10 0 393

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 Blackwell Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 844 42.0 20.0 n/a
1990 855 46.1 18.5 n/a
1991 808 46.0 17.5 n/a
1992 830 46.9 17.6 n/a
1993 802 49.1 16.3 n/a
1994 748 42.6 n/a 94.9
1995 748 n/a 0.0 60.3
1996 748 n/a 0.0 60.3
1997 734 n/a 0.0 60.2
1998 733 n/a 0.0 62.2
1999 674 36.0 18.7 68.8
2000 601 n/a 0.0 98.8
2001 571 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 514 47.0 10.9 81.1
2003 514 47.0 10.9 81.1
2004 485 40.0 12.1 79.8
2005 461 39.0 11.8 71.1
2006 510 48.0 10.6 64.9
2007 572 58.0 9.9 63
2008 627 38.0 16.5 55.5
2009 661 38.0 17.4 56.8
2010 633 40.0 15.8 60.4
2011 753 42.0 17.9 89.5
2012 798 33.5 23.7 90.2
2013 762 31.0 24.5 98
2014 656 29.0 22.6 87
2015 664 29.0 22.8 96.8
2016 680 26.0 26.1 95.7
2017 679 28.5 23.8 99.6
2018 441 29.5 14.9 99.3
2019 376 29.0 12.9 99.2
2020 369 27.0 13.6 99.2
2021 408 30.0 13.6 n/a
2022 377 29.0 13.0 99.2
2023 393 29.0 13.5 98.2

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 Blackwell Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 844 42.0 20.0 n/a
1990 855 46.1 18.5 n/a
1991 808 46.0 17.5 n/a
1992 830 46.9 17.6 n/a
1993 802 49.1 16.3 n/a
1994 748 42.6 n/a 94.9
1995 748 n/a 0.0 60.3
1996 748 n/a 0.0 60.3
1997 734 n/a 0.0 60.2
1998 733 n/a 0.0 62.2
1999 674 36.0 18.7 68.8
2000 601 n/a 0.0 98.8
2001 571 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 514 47.0 10.9 81.1
2003 514 47.0 10.9 81.1
2004 485 40.0 12.1 79.8
2005 461 39.0 11.8 71.1
2006 510 48.0 10.6 64.9
2007 572 58.0 9.9 63
2008 627 38.0 16.5 55.5
2009 661 38.0 17.4 56.8
2010 633 40.0 15.8 60.4
2011 753 42.0 17.9 89.5
2012 798 33.5 23.7 90.2
2013 762 31.0 24.5 98
2014 656 29.0 22.6 87
2015 664 29.0 22.8 96.8
2016 680 26.0 26.1 95.7
2017 679 28.5 23.8 99.6
2018 441 29.5 14.9 99.3
2019 376 29.0 12.9 99.2
2020 369 27.0 13.6 99.2
2021 408 30.0 13.6 n/a
2022 377 29.0 13.0 99.2
2023 393 29.0 13.5 98.2

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 Blackwell Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,171 (8.3%) $12,869 (91.7%) $14,039
2020 $1,232 (8.4%) $13,415 (91.6%) $14,647
2021 $1,096 (9.9%) $9,964 (90.1%) $11,060

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Blackwell 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 1091st of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 1112th of 1114 Elementary schools
 1.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Blackwell Elementary)3520.3
 14.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Richmond City Public Schools)6142
 19%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Blackwell Elementary)4517.2
 27.8%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Richmond City Public Schools)5040.1
 9.9%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Blackwell Elementary)5226.9
 25.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Richmond City Public Schools)6545.9
 19.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Blackwell Elementary)4531.4
 13.6%
   4th Grade English Reading (Richmond City Public Schools)5647.2
 8.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Blackwell Elementary)3719.2
 17.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Richmond City Public Schools)6541.3
 23.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Blackwell Elementary)3716.4
 20.6%
   5th Grade Science (Richmond City Public Schools)6139.4
 21.6%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Blackwell Elementary)5443.8
 10.2%
   5th Grade English Reading (Richmond City Public Schools)6246
 16%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students376393
 4.5%
African American348336
 3.4%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian91
 88.9%
Hispanic638
 533.3%
Pacific Islander00
White87
 12.5%
Two or More Races310
 233.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.2%98.2%
 1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Blackwell Elementary

Students who attend Blackwell Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Armstrong High
High : Franklin Military Academy
High : Open High
High : Richmond Community High

Students at Blackwell Elementary are 85% African American, 10% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% White.

In the 2022-23 school year, 393 students attended Blackwell Elementary.

Blackwell Elementary ranks in the bottom 1.3% of Virginia elementary schools.


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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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