Essex County School District

109 N Cross St
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(District boundaries shown in map)
2/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public schools serving 1,092 students in Essex County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Virginia.
Public Schools in Essex County School District have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the Virginia public school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Virginia public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
3 Schools
2,136 Schools
# Students
1,092 Students
1,257,463 Students
# Teachers
88 Teachers
92,279 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Essex 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 92% has increased from 90-94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (VA)
#106 out of 132 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
60%
68%
(20-21)
55%
69%
(20-21)
25-29%
59%
92%
89%
(2022-23)
10.5%
19.1%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.72
% American Indian
1%
n/a
% Asian
2%
8%
% Hispanic
6%
20%
% Black
54%
21%
% White
25%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
7%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,897 is higher than the state median of $15,504. The school district revenue/student has grown by 23% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,342 is higher than the state median of $15,258. The school district spending/student has grown by 24% over four school years.
This School District
This State (VA)
Total Revenue
$19 MM
$19,496 MM
Spending
$19 MM
$19,187 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,897
$15,504
Spending / Student
$17,342
$15,258

Best Essex County School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Essex High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
833 High School Circle
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(804) 443-4301
Gr: 9-12 | 393 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #22.
Tappahannock Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
205 Elementary School Circle
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(804) 443-5301
Gr: PK-4 | 400 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #33.
James H. Cary Intermediate
(Math: 54% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
912 Intermediate School Circle
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(804) 443-3040
Gr: 5-8 | 299 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 75%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Essex County School District?
Essex County School District manages 3 public schools serving 1,092 students.
What is the rank of Essex County School District?
Essex County School District is ranked #106 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: Highest graduation rate (Top 10%) and Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County School District?
54% of Essex County School District students are Black, 25% of students are White, 12% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Essex County School District?
Essex County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 12:1, which is lower than the Virginia state average of 14:1.
What is Essex County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,342 is higher than the state median of $15,258. The school district spending/student has grown by 24% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,092 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 75%
  • : 92% (Top 10% in VA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 60% (Btm 50%)
  • : 55% (Btm 50%)
  • : 25-29% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

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