Harding Avenue Elementary

Summary:

Harding Avenue Elementary is a public elementary school in Blacksburg, Virginia, serving 296 students in grades K-5 and part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, which is ranked 42 out of 130 school districts in the state.

Harding Avenue Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Virginia, with students outperforming state and district averages in SOL assessments by 10-20 percentage points. For example, the school's 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was 92% in 2023-2024, compared to 74.9% for the Montgomery County district and 70.11% for the state. The school also has a more diverse student population, with higher percentages of Asian and Hispanic students compared to nearby schools like Eastern Montgomery Elementary and Riverlawn Elementary. Additionally, Harding Avenue Elementary has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (17.57% in 2022-2023) than the surrounding schools, indicating a lower proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Harding Avenue Elementary's consistent academic excellence, diverse student population, and efficient resource allocation make it a standout institution in the region. The school's success may provide valuable insights for other schools seeking to improve their educational outcomes, and its performance is likely due to a combination of factors, including effective teaching, a supportive learning environment, and strong parental involvement.


Detail:

Public K-5

 429 Harding Avenue
       Blacksburg, VA  24060


(540) 951-5732

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
37th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,958 Help


Students who attend Harding Avenue Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Blacksburg Middle
High:    Blacksburg High

Student/teacher ratio:  12.8 Help
Number of students:  282

Racial breakdown:

White:
68.8%
Asian:
12.4%
Hispanic:
8.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  21.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Harding Avenue Elementary ranks better than 96.7% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks first among 10 ranked elementary schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.79. (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 Racial makeup is: White (68.8%), Asian (12.4%), Hispanic (8.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 21.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Harding Avenue Elementary is 12.8. 5 elementary schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Harding Avenue Elementary employs 22 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Harding Avenue Elementary is $8,958. 5 elementary schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Harding Avenue Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Harding Avenue Elementary 37th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Harding Avenue Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Montgomery County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Montgomery County Public Schools 42nd of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Harding Avenue Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Harding Avenue Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 68.67 288th 1062 72.9%
2006 70.96 256th 1071 76.1%
2007 69.73 285th 1083 73.7%
2008 78.21 134th 1081 87.6%
2009 77.46 144th 1082 86.7%
2010 72.81 217th 1113 80.5%
2011 76.62 181st 1117 83.8%
2012 76.71 178th 1117 84.1%
2013 91.64 17th 1120 98.5%
2014 83.24 112th 1110 89.9%
2015 85.98 52nd 1100 95.3%
2016 76.28 205th 1096 81.3%
2017 72.01 274th 1099 75.1%
2018 70.50 305th 1097 72.2%
2019 64.63 422nd 1105 61.8%
2021 88.88 89th 1103 91.9%
2022 89.90 56th 1109 95.0%
2023 92.71 22nd 1114 98.0%
2024 90.79 37th 1114 96.7%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Harding Avenue Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 91.49 24th 1100 97.8%
2024 85.39 96th 1098 91.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Harding Avenue Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 90.73 29th 1093 97.3%
2024 91.65 23rd 1101 97.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Harding Avenue Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 90.34 11th 984 98.9%
2024 88.07 22nd 979 97.8%
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.

Harding Avenue 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 Harding Avenue 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 325 325
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 373 373
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 384 384
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 394 394
1993 328 16 0 6 9 n/a n/a 0 359
1994 333 13 11 6 0 n/a n/a 0 363
1995 274 18 10 5 0 n/a n/a 0 307
1996 274 18 10 5 0 n/a n/a 0 307
1997 248 15 11 4 0 n/a n/a 0 278
1998 249 18 19 6 0 n/a n/a 0 292
1999 217 28 17 7 2 n/a n/a 0 271
2000 202 27 17 10 1 n/a n/a -4 253
2001 192 21 10 4 1 n/a n/a 0 228
2002 177 11 16 2 2 n/a n/a 0 208
2003 177 11 16 2 2 n/a n/a 0 208
2004 192 14 20 2 0 n/a n/a 0 228
2005 186 11 16 4 1 n/a n/a 0 218
2006 185 11 16 3 1 n/a n/a 2 218
2007 191 12 29 5 1 n/a n/a 4 242
2008 198 10 21 5 1 n/a n/a 4 239
2009 212 10 20 7 1 n/a n/a 8 258
2010 213 9 25 3 1 n/a n/a 13 264
2011 213 6 27 9 0 0 13 0 268
2012 209 10 29 8 0 0 17 0 273
2013 205 13 23 11 0 1 11 0 264
2014 217 11 24 11 0 1 15 0 279
2015 227 13 31 17 0 0 12 0 300
2016 238 12 35 25 0 0 18 0 328
2017 244 12 33 17 0 0 17 0 323
2018 260 9 43 18 0 0 19 0 349
2019 246 11 40 20 0 0 30 0 347
2020 238 10 32 30 0 0 26 0 336
2021 210 9 29 31 1 0 23 0 303
2022 189 9 27 24 1 0 22 0 272
2023 211 5 31 28 1 0 20 0 296
2024 194 5 35 24 1 0 23 0 282

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 Harding Avenue Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 325 17.5 18.5 n/a
1990 373 18.9 19.7 n/a
1991 384 20.9 18.3 n/a
1992 394 21.3 18.4 n/a
1993 359 21.7 16.5 n/a
1994 363 16.5 n/a 11
1995 307 n/a 0.0 21.8
1996 307 n/a 0.0 21.8
1997 278 n/a 0.0 20.1
1998 292 n/a 0.0 26.4
1999 271 21.1 12.8 32.8
2000 253 n/a 0.0 26.5
2001 228 21.0 10.9 25
2002 208 24.5 8.5 24
2003 208 24.5 8.5 24
2004 228 22.5 10.1 25.4
2005 218 20.5 10.6 24.8
2006 218 22.0 9.9 25.9
2007 242 22.5 10.8 23.1
2008 239 16.8 14.2 21.7
2009 258 18.0 14.3 23.2
2010 264 17.7 14.9 18.7
2011 268 18.9 14.1 17.9
2012 273 18.4 14.7 20.9
2013 264 19.8 13.3 20.5
2014 279 21.1 13.1 21.5
2015 300 24.0 12.5 17.7
2016 328 22.0 14.9 20.7
2017 323 22.7 14.2 22.3
2018 349 21.6 16.1 19.2
2019 347 23.9 14.4 18.7
2020 336 24.9 13.4 19.3
2021 303 23.4 12.9 n/a
2022 272 21.0 12.9 23.9
2023 296 22.2 13.3 17.6
2024 282 22.0 12.8 21.6

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 Harding Avenue Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 325 17.5 18.5 n/a
1990 373 18.9 19.7 n/a
1991 384 20.9 18.3 n/a
1992 394 21.3 18.4 n/a
1993 359 21.7 16.5 n/a
1994 363 16.5 n/a 11
1995 307 n/a 0.0 21.8
1996 307 n/a 0.0 21.8
1997 278 n/a 0.0 20.1
1998 292 n/a 0.0 26.4
1999 271 21.1 12.8 32.8
2000 253 n/a 0.0 26.5
2001 228 21.0 10.9 25
2002 208 24.5 8.5 24
2003 208 24.5 8.5 24
2004 228 22.5 10.1 25.4
2005 218 20.5 10.6 24.8
2006 218 22.0 9.9 25.9
2007 242 22.5 10.8 23.1
2008 239 16.8 14.2 21.7
2009 258 18.0 14.3 23.2
2010 264 17.7 14.9 18.7
2011 268 18.9 14.1 17.9
2012 273 18.4 14.7 20.9
2013 264 19.8 13.3 20.5
2014 279 21.1 13.1 21.5
2015 300 24.0 12.5 17.7
2016 328 22.0 14.9 20.7
2017 323 22.7 14.2 22.3
2018 349 21.6 16.1 19.2
2019 347 23.9 14.4 18.7
2020 336 24.9 13.4 19.3
2021 303 23.4 12.9 n/a
2022 272 21.0 12.9 23.9
2023 296 22.2 13.3 17.6
2024 282 22.0 12.8 21.6

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 Harding Avenue Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $182 (2.8%) $6,268 (97.2%) $6,450
2020 $117 (1.6%) $7,346 (98.4%) $7,463
2021 $441 (4.9%) $8,517 (95.1%) $8,958

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Harding Avenue 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 422nd of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 22nd of 1114 Elementary schools
 36.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Harding Avenue Elementary)9394.6
 1.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Montgomery County Public Schools)8675.5
 10.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Harding Avenue Elementary)7494.6
 20.6%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Montgomery County Public Schools)7269.5
 2.5%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Harding Avenue Elementary)9092.6
 2.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Montgomery County Public Schools)8277.9
 4.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Harding Avenue Elementary)8894.4
 6.4%
   4th Grade English Reading (Montgomery County Public Schools)7878.8
 0.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Harding Avenue Elementary)8796.8
 9.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Montgomery County Public Schools)8676.1
 9.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Harding Avenue Elementary)8193.6
 12.6%
   5th Grade Science (Montgomery County Public Schools)8172.4
 8.6%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Harding Avenue Elementary)7291.9
 19.9%
   5th Grade English Reading (Montgomery County Public Schools)8075.6
 4.4%
   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 Students347296
 14.7%
African American115
 54.5%
American Indian01
Asian4031
 22.5%
Hispanic2028
 40%
Pacific Islander00
White246211
 14.2%
Two or More Races3020
 33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients18.7%17.6%
 1.2%


Schools Near Harding Avenue Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Harding Avenue Elementary

Students who attend Harding Avenue Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Blacksburg Middle
High : Blacksburg High

Yes! Harding Avenue Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 37th of 1114 Virginia elementary schools.

Students at Harding Avenue Elementary are 69% White, 12% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American.

In the 2023-24 school year, 282 students attended Harding Avenue 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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