Is Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) a good school?

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) ranks in the bottom 19.5% of Vermont elementary schools.

How many students attend Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)?

In the 2023-24 school year, 602 students attended Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax).

What is the racial makeup of Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)?

Students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) are 95% White, 2% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) attend?

Students who attend Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) usually go on to attend: High : Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax)

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Summary:

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) is a public elementary school located in Fairfax, Vermont, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 624 students. The school is part of the Maple Run Unified Union School District #57, which is ranked 47 out of 51 districts in Vermont and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) faces several challenges, including a significantly higher percentage of white students (95.51%) compared to the state average and nearby schools like Essex Elementary (79.08% white) and Union Memorial School (78.35% white). The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Vermont elementary schools, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics ranging from 20-50% across different grade levels, which is below the state average. Additionally, Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) has a relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 14-22% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, higher than nearby schools like Jericho Elementary (2.71%) and Cambridge Elementary (21.13%).

The school's declining statewide ranking, from a high of 51 out of 187 Vermont elementary schools in 2011-2012 to its current ranking of 91 out of 113 schools, suggests a potential need for improvement in the school's academic programs and support for students. While Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) has a higher percentage of white students, it underperforms many of the nearby schools, such as Jericho Elementary and Cambridge Elementary, which have higher academic achievement and more diverse student populations. The school's relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and lower statewide ranking may indicate a need for additional funding and resources to support student learning and address any equity gaps.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

75 Hunt Street
Fairfax, VT 05454-0068

(802) 849-6711

District: Fairfax School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
91^st of 113 Vermont Elementary Schools

Students who attend Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) usually attend:

High:

Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax)

Student/teacher ratio: 14.6

Number of students: 602

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.0%

Hispanic:

2.2%

African American:

0.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25.4%

See top rated Vermont elementary schools

Compare Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) ranks worse than 80.5% of elementary schools in Vermont. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.14. (See more...)

Compare Details Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2017 the calculated Average Standard Score was 46.96. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (95%), Hispanic (2.2%), American Indian (0.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) is 14.6. (See more...)

Compare Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) employs 41.2 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax):

SchoolDigger ranks Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) 91^st of 113 Vermont public elementary schools. (See Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax) in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Fairfax School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairfax School District 47^th of 51 Vermont school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)?

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Rank History for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	VT State Percentile
2006	49.10	95^th	184	48.4%
2007	33.95	138^th	189	27.0%
2008	43.97	114^th	193	40.9%
2009	60.08	74^th	189	60.8%
2010	45.28	109^th	189	42.3%
2011	57.91	76^th	189	59.8%
2012	66.48	51^st	187	72.7%
2013	61.37	72^nd	187	61.5%
2014	60.68	63^rd	167	62.3%
2015	55.59	72^nd	176	59.1%
2016	41.93	101^st	169	40.2%
2017	39.21	106^th	169	37.3%
2018	40.91	94^th	142	33.8%
2021	47.53	82^nd	148	44.6%
2022	36.48	83^rd	133	37.6%
2023	29.14	91^st	113	19.5%

See the entire list of Vermont Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	VT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	46.52	6^th	15	60.0%

See the entire list of Best Vermont Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	VT State Percentile
2021	59.73	15^th	44	65.9%
2022	16.05	37^th	38	2.6%
2023	24.40	17^th	21	19.0%

See the entire list of Best Vermont Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	VT State Percentile
2021	46.62	34^th	66	48.5%
2022	30.82	44^th	61	27.9%
2023	26.16	38^th	44	13.6%

See the entire list of Best Vermont Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	VT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	49.68	30^th	62	51.6%
2023	34.04	32^nd	46	30.4%

See the entire list of Best Vermont Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	VT State Percentile
2018	41.10	77^th	117	34.2%
2021	44.70	84^th	147	42.9%
2022	33.71	99^th	145	31.7%
2023	30.65	102^nd	133	23.3%

See the entire list of Best Vermont Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Vermont Agency of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VT State Percentile
2006	52.76	48^th	105	54.3%
2007	51.10	47^th	98	52.0%
2008	53.81	43^rd	99	56.6%
2009	61.78	37^th	102	63.7%
2010	59.38	40^th	104	61.5%
2011	58.96	34^th	106	67.9%
2012	65.86	34^th	111	69.4%
2013	47.61	57^th	107	46.7%
2014	59.08	35^th	91	61.5%
2015	40.92	62^nd	106	41.5%
2016	40.81	62^nd	105	41.0%
2017	46.96	53^rd	104	49.0%

See the entire list of Vermont Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Vermont Agency of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Vermont Agency of Education

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Enrollment information for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	638	7	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	645
1989	650	4	3	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	657
1990	635	4	3	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	642
1991	674	4	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	680
1992	698	4	1	1	4	n/a	n/a	0	708
1993	738	5	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	745
1994	768	2	1	3	3	n/a	n/a	0	777
1995	834	3	2	3	11	n/a	n/a	0	853
1996	834	3	2	3	11	n/a	n/a	0	853
1997	914	3	2	6	12	n/a	n/a	0	937
1998	934	7	3	1	10	n/a	n/a	0	955
1999	931	8	1	1	14	n/a	n/a	0	955
2000	957	8	2	1	10	n/a	n/a	0	978
2001	951	5	2	0	5	n/a	n/a	0	963
2002	908	5	15	2	14	n/a	n/a	0	944
2003	908	5	15	2	14	n/a	n/a	0	944
2004	910	6	8	2	19	n/a	n/a	0	945
2006	568	10	7	2	15	n/a	n/a	0	602
2007	558	6	8	3	14	n/a	n/a	0	589
2008	572	6	8	4	11	n/a	n/a	4	605
2009	558	5	8	3	9	0	6	0	589
2010	545	5	5	6	8	0	7	0	576
2011	561	3	4	6	6	0	7	0	587
2012	562	2	4	5	2	0	6	0	581
2013	549	1	4	5	2	0	11	0	572
2014	551	1	3	4	1	0	13	0	573
2015	564	1	4	4	1	0	10	0	584
2016	563	3	5	4	1	0	10	0	586
2017	583	4	3	6	1	0	9	0	606
2018	646	4	2	5	0	0	8	0	665
2019	520	4	1	6	1	0	0	0	532
2020	552	4	1	6	2	0	1	0	566
2021	547	9	2	5	3	0	1	0	567
2022	581	11	4	6	3	0	0	0	605
2023	596	7	5	12	4	0	0	0	624
2024	572	5	4	13	5	0	3	0	602

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 Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	645	33.4	19.3	14.4
1989	657	32.0	20.5	10.8
1990	642	32.0	20.0	7.2
1991	680	53.7	12.6	8.7
1992	708	49.1	14.4	7.8
1993	745	49.1	15.2	9.7
1994	777	59.5	13.1	9.7
1995	853	59.2	14.4	11
1996	853	59.2	14.4	11
1997	937	61.5	15.2	10.4
1998	955	65.5	14.6	14
1999	955	64.5	14.8	11.6
2000	978	77.4	12.6	14.6
2001	963	74.9	12.9	16.4
2002	944	72.2	13.1	16.2
2003	944	72.2	13.1	16.2
2004	945	75.7	12.5	16.8
2006	602	47.2	12.8	19.3
2007	589	47.0	12.5	16.1
2008	605	46.1	13.1	19.1
2009	589	45.1	13.0	19.2
2010	576	49.2	11.7	18.9
2011	587	46.5	12.6	20.1
2012	581	46.8	12.4	18.4
2013	572	47.0	12.1	22.2
2014	573	47.0	12.1	22.5
2015	584	43.0	13.5	24
2016	586	41.0	14.2	24.6
2017	606	41.2	14.7	20.1
2018	665	42.8	15.5	20
2019	532	44.4	11.9	13.5
2020	566	31.5	17.9	21.7
2021	567	31.3	18.0	22
2022	605	36.4	16.5	15.4
2023	624	40.5	15.4	14.4
2024	602	41.2	14.6	25.4

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 Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	645	33.4	19.3	14.4
1989	657	32.0	20.5	10.8
1990	642	32.0	20.0	7.2
1991	680	53.7	12.6	8.7
1992	708	49.1	14.4	7.8
1993	745	49.1	15.2	9.7
1994	777	59.5	13.1	9.7
1995	853	59.2	14.4	11
1996	853	59.2	14.4	11
1997	937	61.5	15.2	10.4
1998	955	65.5	14.6	14
1999	955	64.5	14.8	11.6
2000	978	77.4	12.6	14.6
2001	963	74.9	12.9	16.4
2002	944	72.2	13.1	16.2
2003	944	72.2	13.1	16.2
2004	945	75.7	12.5	16.8
2006	602	47.2	12.8	19.3
2007	589	47.0	12.5	16.1
2008	605	46.1	13.1	19.1
2009	589	45.1	13.0	19.2
2010	576	49.2	11.7	18.9
2011	587	46.5	12.6	20.1
2012	581	46.8	12.4	18.4
2013	572	47.0	12.1	22.2
2014	573	47.0	12.1	22.5
2015	584	43.0	13.5	24
2016	586	41.0	14.2	24.6
2017	606	41.2	14.7	20.1
2018	665	42.8	15.5	20
2019	532	44.4	11.9	13.5
2020	566	31.5	17.9	21.7
2021	567	31.3	18.0	22
2022	605	36.4	16.5	15.4
2023	624	40.5	15.4	14.4
2024	602	41.2	14.6	25.4

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.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax))	50	42.4	7.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Vermont)	50.6	44	6.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax))	29.6	33.3	3.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Vermont)	46.5	38.3	8.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	532	624	17.3%
African American	4	7	75%
American Indian	1	4	300%
Asian	1	5	400%
Hispanic	6	12	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	520	596	14.6%
Two or More Races	0	0
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	13.5%	14.4%	0.9%

Schools Near Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				VTCAP English Language Arts (2023)				VTCAP Mathematics (2023)				VTCAP Science (2023)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	VTCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	VTCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	VTCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	VTCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	VTCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	VTCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	VTCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	VTCAP Mathematics 6th Grade	VTCAP Science 5th Grade	VTCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)	Public	PK, KG-6	75 Hunt Street	Fairfax	05454	Franklin County	Fairfax School District	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(802) 849-6711	602	41	14.6	25.4%	572 (95.0%)	5 (0.8%)	13 (2.2%)	4 (0.7%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	29.1	91^st of 113 public elementary schools	19.5%		36.5	83^rd of 133 public elementary schools	37.6%	8	41.8	43.6	42.2	50.0	29.1	24.2	20.3	42.7	33.3
Westford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	146 Brookside Road	Westford	05494	Chittenden County	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union School D	(n/a)	No	No	No	(802) 878-5932	200	16	12.6	22.5%	179 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.5%)								(n/a)									70.0	72.2	$13,614	$356	$13,258
Fletcher Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	340 School Road	Cambridge	05444	Lamoille County	Fletcher School District	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(802) 849-6251	122	11	11.5	30.3%	117 (95.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					18.8				57.1		$12,275	$660	$11,615
Milton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	42 Herrick Avenue	Milton	05468	Chittenden County	Milton School District	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(802) 893-5400	659	56	11.7	38.1%	573 (86.9%)	20 (3.0%)	18 (2.7%)	19 (2.9%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.6%)								(n/a)					33.6	14.9					$12,643	$574	$12,069
Georgia Elementary & Middle School	Public	PK, KG-8	4416 Ethan Allen Highway	Saint Albans	05478	Franklin County	Georgia School District	(n/a)	No	No	No	(802) 524-6358	603	61	9.9	31.3%	580 (96.2%)	7 (1.2%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.7%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.0%)	41.2	64^th of 113 public elementary schools	43.4%		52.6	58^th of 133 public elementary schools	56.4%	6		45.9	57.8		39.3	21.3			42.2	37.3	$10,190	$00	$10,190
Cambridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	186 School Street	Jeffersonville	05464	Lamoille County	Cambridge School District	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(802) 644-8821	325	33	9.9	50.5%	312 (96.0%)	5 (1.5%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	67.3	33^rd of 113 public elementary schools	70.8%		94	2^nd of 133 public elementary schools	98.5%	31	33.3	77.1	74.3	74.1	23.5	51.4	54.3	70.4	62.9		$11,568	$733	$10,835
Fairfield Center School	Public	PK, KG-8	57 Park Street	Fairfield	05455	Franklin County	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(802) 827-6639	251	21	12.0	35.9%	236 (94.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)								(n/a)									24.0	33.3	$10,712	$629	$10,083
St. Albans Town Educational Center	Public	PK, KG-8	169 South Main Street	Saint Albans	05478	Franklin County	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57	(n/a)	No	No	No	(802) 527-7191	764	54	14.2	44.9%	700 (91.6%)	2 (0.3%)	17 (2.2%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	35 (4.6%)	50.4	52^nd of 113 public elementary schools	54.0%		44.1	70^th of 133 public elementary schools	47.4%	18				61.5				61.5	27.6	33.8	$11,303	$664	$10,639
Essex Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1 Bixby Hill Road	Essex Junction	05452	Chittenden County	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union School D	(n/a)	No	No	No	(802) 878-2584	492	34	14.3	21.7%	399 (81.1%)	15 (3.0%)	27 (5.5%)	19 (3.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.1%)								(n/a)											$15,784	$413	$15,371
Union Memorial School	Public	PK, KG-2	253 Main Street	Colchester	05446	Chittenden County	Colchester School District	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(802) 264-5959	211	19	10.9	39.8%	159 (75.4%)	11 (5.2%)	7 (3.3%)	15 (7.1%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.1%)								(n/a)											$12,209	$00	$12,209

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax):

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Fairfax School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for all elementary school students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for elementary school White students at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Rank History for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Enrollment information for Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Student/Teacher Ratio Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Impact of COVID-19 on Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Bellows Free Academy Elementary (Fairfax)