White River Unified School District #79

461 Waterman Road
Royalton, VT 05068
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

White River Unified School District #79 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Vermont for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 614 students in White River Unified School District #79. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Vermont.
Public Schools in White River Unified School District #79 have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the Vermont public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 5% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the Vermont public school average of 13% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (VT)
# Schools
4 Schools
306 Schools
# Students
614 Students
78,642 Students
# Teachers
68 Teachers
7,167 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

White River Unified School District #79, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 102 school districts in Vermont (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (VT)
#103 out of 154 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(22-23)
38%
40%
43%
44%
40%
35%
(22-23)
75%
83%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.10
0.23
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
3%
% Black
2%
3%
% White
95%
88%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $21,730 in this school district is less than the state median of $29,860. The school district revenue/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,516 is less than the state median of $29,121. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (VT)
Total Revenue
$13 MM
$2,348 MM
Spending
$12 MM
$2,290 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,730
$29,860
Spending / Student
$19,516
$29,121

Best White River Unified School District #79 Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Bethel Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
273 Pleasant Street
Bethel, VT 05032
(802) 234-6607
Grades: PK-5
| 123 students
Rank: #22.
South Royalton Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
223 South Winsor Street
South Royalton, VT 05068
(802) 763-7740
Grades: PK-5
| 161 students
Rank: #33.
White River Valley High School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
223 South Winsor Street
South Royalton, VT 05068
(802) 763-7740
Grades: 9-12
| 204 students
Rank: #44.
White River Valley Middle School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
273 Pleasant Street
Bethel, VT 05032
(802) 234-9966
Grades: 6-8
| 126 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to White River Unified School District #79?
White River Unified School District #79 manages 4 public schools serving 614 students.
What is the rank of White River Unified School District #79?
White River Unified School District #79 is ranked #65 out of 102 school districts in Vermont (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Vermont school districts for: Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in White River Unified School District #79?
95% of White River Unified School District #79 students are White, 2% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of White River Unified School District #79?
White River Unified School District #79 has a student/teacher ratio of 9:1, which is lower than the Vermont state average of 11:1.
What is White River Unified School District #79's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $19,516 is less than the state median of $29,121. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 614 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 9:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 5%
  • : 75% (Top 50% in VT)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 38% (Btm 50%)
  • : 43% (Top 50%)
  • : 40% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VT Dept. of Education

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