Penn Forest Elementary

Summary:

Penn Forest Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Roanoke, Virginia, serving around 400 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Roanoke County Public Schools district, which is ranked 12th out of 130 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating.

Penn Forest Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Virginia, receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students perform exceptionally well on SOL (Standards of Learning) assessments, with significantly higher proficiency rates compared to the Roanoke County and Virginia state averages across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 88.24% of 3rd graders, 96.77% of 4th graders, and 90.12% of 5th graders were proficient or better in SOL Mathematics, compared to 82.73% and 70.11% for Roanoke County and Virginia, respectively.

Penn Forest Elementary has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 72.75% White, 5.75% African American, 6.25% Hispanic, and 9.5% Asian students. The school's performance on SOL assessments is particularly noteworthy for its Asian student subgroup, which ranked 1st out of 238 Virginia elementary schools in the 2023-2024 school year. When compared to other nearby elementary schools in the Roanoke County district, such as Oak Grove Elementary and Back Creek Elementary, Penn Forest Elementary consistently outperforms its peers on SOL assessments, particularly in Mathematics and English Reading.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 6328 Merriman Rd
       Roanoke, VA  24018


(540) 772-7590

District: Roanoke County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
84th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,079 Help


Students who attend Penn Forest Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Cave Spring Middle
High:    Cave Spring High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.5 Help
Number of students:  400

Racial breakdown:

White:
72.8%
Asian:
9.5%
Hispanic:
6.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  26.5% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Penn Forest Elementary ranks better than 92.5% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 3rd among 16 ranked elementary schools in the Roanoke County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87.14. (See more...)
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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
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Compare Details Penn Forest Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Roanoke County Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Penn Forest Elementary is $9,079, which is the 6th highest among 16 elementary schools in the Roanoke County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Penn Forest Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Forest Elementary 84th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Penn Forest Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:


Roanoke County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Roanoke County Public Schools 12th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Penn Forest Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 75.29 196th 1062 81.5%
2006 81.93 87th 1071 91.9%
2007 76.95 158th 1083 85.4%
2008 79.76 113th 1081 89.5%
2009 75.22 190th 1082 82.4%
2010 76.42 157th 1113 85.9%
2011 82.55 77th 1117 93.1%
2012 84.53 62nd 1117 94.4%
2013 85.71 80th 1120 92.9%
2014 85.25 87th 1110 92.2%
2015 81.76 130th 1100 88.2%
2016 81.88 126th 1096 88.5%
2017 77.70 183rd 1099 83.3%
2018 86.04 76th 1097 93.1%
2019 80.21 164th 1105 85.2%
2021 90.73 62nd 1103 94.4%
2022 89.30 66th 1109 94.0%
2023 88.83 62nd 1114 94.4%
2024 87.14 84th 1114 92.5%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 87.22 52nd 1036 95.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 84.78 104th 1100 90.5%
2024 87.28 71st 1098 93.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 83.29 23rd 324 92.9%
2024 58.52 157th 355 55.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 89.59 40th 1093 96.3%
2024 84.22 122nd 1101 88.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 86.25 5th 230 97.8%
2024 88.93 1st 238 99.6%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Penn Forest Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 80.42 107th 984 89.1%
2024 77.90 147th 979 85.0%
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.

Penn Forest 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 Penn Forest 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 525 525
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 556 556
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 561 561
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 574 574
1993 519 12 6 0 13 n/a n/a 0 550
1994 543 14 9 0 0 n/a n/a 0 566
1995 538 11 8 2 0 n/a n/a 0 559
1996 538 11 8 2 0 n/a n/a 0 559
1997 554 9 11 1 0 n/a n/a 0 575
1998 527 12 12 4 0 n/a n/a 0 555
1999 504 9 12 4 1 n/a n/a 0 530
2000 484 11 14 4 0 n/a n/a -4 509
2001 445 12 13 12 0 n/a n/a 0 482
2002 453 18 15 13 0 n/a n/a 0 499
2003 453 18 15 13 0 n/a n/a 0 499
2004 472 24 18 11 0 n/a n/a 0 525
2005 467 24 27 8 0 n/a n/a 0 526
2006 474 26 31 7 0 n/a n/a 1 539
2007 495 24 34 9 0 n/a n/a 1 563
2008 503 28 37 11 0 n/a n/a 7 586
2009 514 25 33 9 0 n/a n/a 11 592
2010 490 26 32 13 1 n/a n/a 10 572
2011 492 24 23 21 0 0 21 0 581
2012 415 18 19 14 0 0 17 0 483
2013 413 20 20 17 0 0 19 0 489
2014 402 20 20 15 0 0 19 0 476
2015 395 24 23 17 0 0 20 0 479
2016 402 21 18 17 1 0 14 0 473
2017 395 16 26 19 1 0 12 0 469
2018 382 18 36 20 1 0 10 0 467
2019 384 14 45 23 1 0 7 0 474
2020 352 16 42 23 0 0 13 0 446
2021 332 19 49 20 1 0 17 0 438
2022 322 21 49 23 1 0 20 0 436
2023 291 23 38 25 1 0 22 0 400

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 Penn Forest Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 525 31.3 16.7 n/a
1990 556 31.3 17.7 n/a
1991 561 32.6 17.2 n/a
1992 574 33.2 17.2 n/a
1993 550 32.3 17.0 n/a
1994 566 28.9 n/a 4.2
1995 559 n/a 0.0 3.6
1996 559 n/a 0.0 3.6
1997 575 n/a 0.0 3.8
1998 555 n/a 0.0 2.7
1999 530 32.0 16.6 6.4
2000 509 n/a 0.0 6.8
2001 482 31.0 15.5 6.6
2002 499 40.4 12.4 9.2
2003 499 40.4 12.4 9.2
2004 525 41.0 12.8 10.9
2005 526 37.8 13.9 12.4
2006 539 45.0 12.0 12.5
2007 563 41.7 13.5 13.5
2008 586 32.2 18.2 14.7
2009 592 34.4 17.2 16.5
2010 572 30.3 18.8 18
2011 581 31.5 18.4 19.3
2012 483 31.1 15.5 14.5
2013 489 28.0 17.4 17.8
2014 476 28.9 16.4 19.5
2015 479 30.0 15.9 21.7
2016 473 30.0 15.7 16.1
2017 469 30.5 15.3 17.5
2018 467 30.5 15.2 18.8
2019 474 25.5 18.5 16
2020 446 28.5 15.6 17.5
2021 438 28.5 15.3 n/a
2022 436 28.5 15.2 17.9
2023 400 29.5 13.5 26.5

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 Penn Forest Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 525 31.3 16.7 n/a
1990 556 31.3 17.7 n/a
1991 561 32.6 17.2 n/a
1992 574 33.2 17.2 n/a
1993 550 32.3 17.0 n/a
1994 566 28.9 n/a 4.2
1995 559 n/a 0.0 3.6
1996 559 n/a 0.0 3.6
1997 575 n/a 0.0 3.8
1998 555 n/a 0.0 2.7
1999 530 32.0 16.6 6.4
2000 509 n/a 0.0 6.8
2001 482 31.0 15.5 6.6
2002 499 40.4 12.4 9.2
2003 499 40.4 12.4 9.2
2004 525 41.0 12.8 10.9
2005 526 37.8 13.9 12.4
2006 539 45.0 12.0 12.5
2007 563 41.7 13.5 13.5
2008 586 32.2 18.2 14.7
2009 592 34.4 17.2 16.5
2010 572 30.3 18.8 18
2011 581 31.5 18.4 19.3
2012 483 31.1 15.5 14.5
2013 489 28.0 17.4 17.8
2014 476 28.9 16.4 19.5
2015 479 30.0 15.9 21.7
2016 473 30.0 15.7 16.1
2017 469 30.5 15.3 17.5
2018 467 30.5 15.2 18.8
2019 474 25.5 18.5 16
2020 446 28.5 15.6 17.5
2021 438 28.5 15.3 n/a
2022 436 28.5 15.2 17.9
2023 400 29.5 13.5 26.5

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 Penn Forest Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $178 (2.2%) $7,984 (97.8%) $8,162
2020 $187 (2.3%) $7,951 (97.7%) $8,138
2021 $188 (2.1%) $8,891 (97.9%) $9,079

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Penn Forest 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 164th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 62nd of 1114 Elementary schools
 9.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Penn Forest Elementary)9488.7
 5.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Roanoke County Public Schools)8881
 7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Penn Forest Elementary)9491.9
 2.1%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Roanoke County Public Schools)8077.5
 2.6%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Penn Forest Elementary)8691.9
 5.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Roanoke County Public Schools)8980.8
 8.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Penn Forest Elementary)8087.8
 7.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Roanoke County Public Schools)8084.9
 4.9%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Penn Forest Elementary)9793.3
 3.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Roanoke County Public Schools)8880.3
 7.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Penn Forest Elementary)9998.3
 0.7%
   5th Grade Science (Roanoke County Public Schools)8777
 10.1%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Penn Forest Elementary)8691.7
 5.7%
   5th Grade English Reading (Roanoke County Public Schools)8378.9
 4.1%
   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 Students474400
 15.6%
African American1423
 64.3%
American Indian11
Asian4538
 15.6%
Hispanic2325
 8.7%
Pacific Islander00
White384291
 24.2%
Two or More Races722
 214.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients16%26.5%
 10.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Penn Forest Elementary

Students who attend Penn Forest Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cave Spring Middle
High : Cave Spring High

Yes. Penn Forest Elementary ranks in the top 7.5% of Virginia elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 400 students attended Penn Forest Elementary.

Students at Penn Forest Elementary are 73% White, 10% Asian, 6% Hispanic, 6% African American, 6% Two or more races.


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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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