Total enrollment
3,854
-72 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Bennington County
Vermont · Public K-12
Bennington County's public schools total 16 across the county, with enrollment of about 3,854 and Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 the largest single district. By grade band, the county runs 12 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Bennington County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
+1 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Bennington County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Vermont | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,854 | #9 of 12 | #1,581 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 15 | #11 of 12 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.2:1 | #12 of 12 | #976 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 72.7% | #1 of 12 | #667 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 21.1% | #4 of 11 | #2,107 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Bennington County school rankings
Residents
37,269
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
7 districts
Enrollment
3,854
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,325
Below Vermont avg
Free/reduced lunch
72.7%
Above Vermont avg
Elementary
12
2,313 students
Middle
1
484 students
High
3
1,057 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
1,351 students · 7 districts in Bennington County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bennington County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
41.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
47
18.7% under 18
Test scores in Bennington County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Vermont state average: 50.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Molly Stark School· 36.8%
- Bennington Elementary School· 37.8%
- Pownal Elementary School· 38.6%
- Mt. Anthony Union Middle School· 41.2%
- Shaftsbury Elementary School· 41.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Bennington | High | 09-12 | 855 | · |
| Mt. Anthony Union Middle School | Bennington | Middle | 06-08 | 484 | · |
| Molly Stark School | Bennington | Elementary | PK-05 | 402 | · |
| Manchester Elementary/Middle School | Manchester Center | Elementary | PK-08 | 396 | · |
| Bennington Elementary School | Bennington | Elementary | PK-05 | 278 | · |
| Pownal Elementary School | Pownal | Elementary | PK-06 | 249 | · |
| Shaftsbury Elementary School | Shaftsbury | Elementary | PK-06 | 245 | · |
| Fisher School | Arlington | Elementary | PK-05 | 205 | · |
| Arlington Memorial | Arlington | High | 06-12 | 202 | · |
| Dorset Elementary School | Dorset | Elementary | PK-08 | 187 | · |
| Monument Elementary School | Bennington | Elementary | PK-05 | 147 | · |
| Stamford Elementary School | Stramford | Elementary | PK-08 | 78 | · |
| Sunderland Elementary School | Arlington | Elementary | PK-06 | 58 | · |
| Readsboro Elementary School | Readsboro | Elementary | PK-06 | 38 | · |
| Woodford Hollow School | Bennington | Elementary | PK-06 | 30 | · |
| Southwest Tech | Bennington | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Bennington County
About Bennington County
Bennington County is a sparse Vermont county of about 37,269 residents, home to 16 public schools and roughly 3,854 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $73,325, 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 6% below the Vermont median.
On the school-mix side, Bennington County consists of 12 elementary schools (2,313 students), 1 middle school (484), and 3 high schools (1,057).
Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,351 students across Bennington County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Bennington County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,926 students to 3,854. The school count climbed from 14 to 15 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Bennington County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data