Nelson County School District

84 Courthouse Square
Lovingston, VA 22949-0276
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Nelson County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Virginia for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 1,492 students in Nelson County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in Virginia.
Public Schools in Nelson County School District have an average math proficiency score of 73% (versus the Virginia public school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Virginia public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
4 Schools
2,138 Schools
# Students
1,492 Students
1,256,693 Students
# Teachers
128 Teachers
92,235 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Nelson County School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 131 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 85-89% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (VA)
#67 out of 132 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
71%
68%
(20-21)
62%
69%
(20-21)
48%
59%
87%
89%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.49
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
8%
% Hispanic
15%
20%
% Black
12%
21%
% White
69%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
7%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,983 is higher than the state median of $15,513. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,822 is higher than the state median of $15,268. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (VA)
Total Revenue
$27 MM
$19,496 MM
Spending
$27 MM
$19,187 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,983
$15,513
Spending / Student
$17,822
$15,268

Best Nelson County School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Nelson County High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6919 Thomas Nelson Hwy
Lovingston, VA 22949
(434) 263-8317
Gr: 9-12 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #22.
Rockfish River Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Chapel Hollow Rd
Afton, VA 22920
(434) 361-1791
Gr: PK-5 | 318 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #33.
Nelson Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6925 Thomas Nelson Highway
Lovingston, VA 22949
(434) 263-4801
Gr: 6-8 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #44.
Tye River Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5198 Thomas Nelson Hwy
Arrington, VA 22922
(434) 263-8960
Gr: PK-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Nelson County School District?
Nelson County School District manages 4 public schools serving 1,492 students.
What is the rank of Nelson County School District?
Nelson County School District is ranked #66 out of 131 school districts in Virginia (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 Virginia school districts for: Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Nelson County School District?
69% of Nelson County School District students are White, 15% of students are Hispanic, 12% of students are Black, and 4% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Nelson County School District?
Nelson County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is lower than the Virginia state average of 14:1.
What is Nelson County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,822 is higher than the state median of $15,268. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,492 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 31%
  • : 87% (Top 50% in VA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 71% (Top 50%)
  • : 62% (Btm 50%)
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

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