James K. Polk Elementary

803 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

James K. Polk Elementary School is a public school located in the West End of Alexandria, Virginia, serving a diverse student population within the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) district. The school is known for its commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment that emphasizes both academic growth and social-emotional development. As part of a culturally rich community, the school leverages its diversity to create a global-minded atmosphere, offering various programs designed to support students from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who are English language learners.

Beyond its core curriculum, James K. Polk is dedicated to community engagement and student well-being. The school actively encourages parental involvement and collaborates with local partners to provide enriching extracurricular activities and support services. With a focus on preparing students for the transition to middle school and beyond, the faculty emphasizes foundational literacy and numeracy skills while integrating modern technology into the classroom to ensure students remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.

803

Total Students

53.5

Full-Time Teachers

15.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

75.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for James K. Polk Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	168
Hispanic	292
Black	218
Asian	101
Two or More	24

Hispanic
292 (36.4 %)
Black
218 (27.1 %)
White
168 (20.9 %)
Asian
101 (12.6 %)
Two or More
24 (3.0 %)

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:	Alexandria City Public Schools
Phone:	(703)461-4180
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	803
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	53.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	609
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

Pre-Kindergarten 21

Kindergarten 127

Grade 1 165

Grade 2 109

Grade 3 136

Grade 4 123

Grade 5 122