For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 425 students in White River Unified School District #79. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Vermont.
Public Elementary Schools in White River Unified School District #79 have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Vermont public elementary school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 3% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Vermont public elementary school average of 13% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (VT)
# Schools
4 Schools
240 Schools
# Students
649 Students
55,436 Students
# Teachers
66 Teachers
4,860 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
White River Unified School District #79, which is ranked within the top 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.
Overall District Rank
#46 out of 103 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
40%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
35%
Graduation Rate
75%
82%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)27%
27.8%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.09
0.24
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
4%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
96%
87%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,051 in this school district is less than the state median of $33,974. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,606 is less than the state median of $34,751. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$14 MM
$2,622 MM
Spending
$13 MM
$2,682 MM
Revenue / Student
$22,051
$33,974
Spending / Student
$19,606
$34,751
Best White River Unified School District #79 Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bethel Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
273 Pleasant Street
Bethel, VT 05032
(802) 234-6607
Bethel, VT 05032
(802) 234-6607
Gr: PK-5 | 124 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #22.
White River Valley Middle School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
273 Pleasant Street
Bethel, VT 05032
(802) 234-9966
Bethel, VT 05032
(802) 234-9966
Gr: 6-8 | 133 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #33.
South Royalton Elementary School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
223 South Winsor Street
South Royalton, VT 05068
(802) 763-7740
South Royalton, VT 05068
(802) 763-7740
Gr: PK-5 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Recent Articles
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.
