Wilderness Elementary

Summary:

Wilderness Elementary is a public elementary school in Spotsylvania, Virginia, serving 656 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Spotsylvania County Public Schools district, which is ranked 80 out of 130 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Wilderness Elementary stands out for its relatively diverse student population, with 43.6% White, 22.1% African American, and 23.32% Hispanic students. However, the school also has a high percentage of students (64.94%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than nearby schools like Chancellor Elementary, which has only 23.68% of students in this category. Academically, Wilderness Elementary's performance, as measured by SOL test scores, is generally lower than the district and state averages, with its 3rd grade math proficiency rate at 66.02% compared to the district's 66.89% and the state's 70.11%.

Wilderness Elementary's statewide ranking has been declining, from 446 out of 1,103 Virginia elementary schools in 2020-2021 to 710 out of 1,114 in 2023-2024. The school also shows significant disparities in performance between different student subgroups, with its African American students ranking 529 out of 588 Virginia elementary schools, while its White students ranked 463 out of 979. Compared to nearby schools like Brock Road Elementary and Chancellor Elementary, Wilderness Elementary's academic achievement is generally lower, suggesting the need for targeted interventions and resource optimization to support its diverse student population.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 11600 Catharpin Rd
       Spotsylvania, VA  22553


(540) 786-9817

District: Spotsylvania County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
710th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,948 Help


Students who attend Wilderness Elementary usually attend:

High:    Riverbend High

Student/teacher ratio:  15.6 Help
Number of students:  656

Racial breakdown:

White:
43.6%
Hispanic:
23.3%
African American:
22.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  64.9% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Wilderness Elementary ranks worse than 63.7% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 12th among 17 ranked elementary schools in the Spotsylvania County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 41.64. (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
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Compare Details Wilderness Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Spotsylvania County Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wilderness Elementary is $8,948, which is the 6th highest among 17 elementary schools in the Spotsylvania County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wilderness Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilderness Elementary 710th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Wilderness 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:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Spotsylvania County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Spotsylvania County Public Schools 80th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Wilderness Elementary.

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Rank History for Wilderness Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 29.75 874th 1062 17.7%
2006 28.70 915th 1071 14.6%
2007 52.87 554th 1083 48.8%
2008 57.49 486th 1081 55.0%
2009 65.88 343rd 1082 68.3%
2010 74.39 196th 1113 82.4%
2011 54.37 554th 1117 50.4%
2012 53.73 561st 1117 49.8%
2013 37.62 794th 1120 29.1%
2014 48.68 625th 1110 43.7%
2015 44.46 710th 1100 35.5%
2016 52.31 589th 1096 46.3%
2017 47.11 666th 1099 39.4%
2018 50.93 612th 1097 44.2%
2019 49.43 640th 1105 42.1%
2021 61.48 446th 1103 59.6%
2022 46.71 650th 1109 41.4%
2023 47.52 636th 1114 42.9%
2024 41.64 710th 1114 36.3%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 31.62 189th 245 22.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 26.20 840th 1036 18.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 39.79 722nd 1100 34.4%
2024 34.08 789th 1098 28.1%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 27.09 278th 324 14.2%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 52.01 564th 1093 48.4%
2024 46.87 647th 1101 41.2%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 27.14 468th 579 19.2%
2024 19.02 529th 588 10.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 45.31 348th 564 38.3%
2024 42.26 379th 580 34.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Wilderness Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 55.12 476th 984 51.6%
2024 57.29 463rd 979 52.7%
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.

Wilderness 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: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, May 29, 2021

Open Quote I LOVE wilderness and can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t. Teachers and all staff are amazing. Not much staff turnover at all. Great principal and nice families. The student teacher ratio is wonderful as well as access to any resource needed. Fantastic school. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Wilderness Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1999 548 119 8 24 1 n/a n/a 0 700
2000 637 148 9 25 3 n/a n/a -4 818
2001 660 159 5 31 2 n/a n/a 0 857
2002 602 135 11 26 1 n/a n/a 0 775
2003 602 135 11 26 1 n/a n/a 0 775
2004 611 134 13 31 2 n/a n/a 0 791
2005 606 140 16 46 2 n/a n/a 4 814
2006 607 149 15 53 4 n/a n/a 6 834
2007 560 161 14 70 4 n/a n/a 19 828
2008 549 151 10 60 3 n/a n/a 19 792
2009 523 150 13 65 2 n/a n/a 23 776
2010 521 135 17 57 1 n/a n/a 20 751
2011 486 100 12 89 2 1 45 0 735
2012 494 108 12 92 1 1 50 0 758
2013 483 114 8 103 1 1 56 0 766
2014 463 119 11 108 2 1 60 0 764
2015 445 125 13 113 3 1 62 0 762
2016 435 120 11 96 5 4 62 0 733
2017 426 132 8 104 4 4 62 0 740
2018 412 132 9 100 2 5 56 0 716
2019 373 124 12 114 2 4 56 0 685
2020 393 118 10 121 1 3 54 0 700
2021 330 115 11 129 3 1 50 0 639
2022 313 120 12 132 2 0 61 0 640
2023 286 145 11 153 2 1 58 0 656

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 Wilderness Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 700 n/a 0.0 14.1
2000 818 n/a 0.0 15.6
2001 857 49.0 17.5 13.8
2002 775 53.0 14.6 14.7
2003 775 53.0 14.6 14.7
2004 791 51.0 15.5 16.2
2005 814 51.0 16.0 17
2006 834 54.0 15.4 17.4
2007 828 62.0 13.4 18.7
2008 792 47.3 16.7 18.4
2009 776 43.5 17.8 23.6
2010 751 44.0 17.0 27.9
2011 735 39.8 18.4 28.4
2012 758 38.5 19.6 31.4
2013 766 39.5 19.3 30.8
2014 764 41.5 18.4 33.9
2015 762 39.0 19.5 34.8
2016 733 37.0 19.8 36.7
2017 740 38.0 19.4 37.7
2018 716 41.0 17.4 39.8
2019 685 40.2 17.0 38.2
2020 700 40.7 17.1 37.7
2021 639 42.5 15.0 n/a
2022 640 42.6 15.0 41.3
2023 656 42.0 15.6 64.9

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 Wilderness Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 700 n/a 0.0 14.1
2000 818 n/a 0.0 15.6
2001 857 49.0 17.5 13.8
2002 775 53.0 14.6 14.7
2003 775 53.0 14.6 14.7
2004 791 51.0 15.5 16.2
2005 814 51.0 16.0 17
2006 834 54.0 15.4 17.4
2007 828 62.0 13.4 18.7
2008 792 47.3 16.7 18.4
2009 776 43.5 17.8 23.6
2010 751 44.0 17.0 27.9
2011 735 39.8 18.4 28.4
2012 758 38.5 19.6 31.4
2013 766 39.5 19.3 30.8
2014 764 41.5 18.4 33.9
2015 762 39.0 19.5 34.8
2016 733 37.0 19.8 36.7
2017 740 38.0 19.4 37.7
2018 716 41.0 17.4 39.8
2019 685 40.2 17.0 38.2
2020 700 40.7 17.1 37.7
2021 639 42.5 15.0 n/a
2022 640 42.6 15.0 41.3
2023 656 42.0 15.6 64.9

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 Wilderness Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $284 (3.7%) $7,330 (96.3%) $7,614
2020 $293 (3.6%) $7,854 (96.4%) $8,147
2021 $327 (3.7%) $8,621 (96.3%) $8,948

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Wilderness 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 640th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 636th of 1114 Elementary schools
 0.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Wilderness Elementary)7968.4
 10.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)8169.5
 11.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Wilderness Elementary)6571.3
 6.3%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)6864.4
 3.6%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Wilderness Elementary)8368
 15%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)8269.5
 12.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Wilderness Elementary)8267.7
 14.3%
   4th Grade English Reading (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)7572.6
 2.4%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Wilderness Elementary)8368.4
 14.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)8470.8
 13.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Wilderness Elementary)7853.9
 24.2%
   5th Grade Science (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)8063.3
 16.7%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Wilderness Elementary)7867.5
 10.5%
   5th Grade English Reading (Spotsylvania County Public Schools)7870.3
 7.7%
   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 Students685656
 4.2%
African American124145
 16.9%
American Indian22
Asian1211
 8.3%
Hispanic114153
 34.2%
Pacific Islander41
 75%
White373286
 23.3%
Two or More Races5658
 3.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients38.2%64.9%
 26.7%


Schools Near Wilderness Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Wilderness Elementary

Students at Wilderness Elementary are 44% White, 23% Hispanic, 22% African American, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Students who attend Wilderness Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Riverbend High

Wilderness Elementary ranks 710th of 1114 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 656 students attended Wilderness 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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