Bessie Weller Elementary

bwes.staunton.k12.va.us/en-US?showHomepage=true

373 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Bessie Weller Elementary School, located in Staunton, Virginia, serves as a central hub for early childhood education within the Staunton City Public Schools district. The school is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students in the primary grades are encouraged to develop both academically and socially. With a commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its student body, the school focuses on building a strong educational foundation through a combination of rigorous curriculum standards, dedicated instruction, and community engagement.

Beyond academics, the school emphasizes the importance of character development and the partnership between home and school. By leveraging resources from the broader Staunton community and maintaining a focus on individual student growth, Bessie Weller Elementary strives to prepare its young learners for success in middle school and beyond. The school’s administration and faculty work collaboratively to ensure that the campus remains a safe, welcoming, and enriching space for children to explore their interests and reach their full potential.

373

Total Students

31.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

83.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bessie Weller Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	203
Hispanic	44
Black	55
Asian	8
Two or More	62
Pacific Islander	1

White
203 (54.4%)
Two or More
62 (16.6%)
Black
55 (14.7%)
Hispanic
44 (11.8%)
Asian
8 (2.1%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Staunton City Public Schools
Phone:	(540)332-3940
Website:	http://bwes.staunton.k12.va.us/en-US?showHomepage=true
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	373
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	31.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	310
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 56

Grade 1 77

Grade 2 57

Grade 3 71

Grade 4 53

Grade 5 59