Total enrollment
1,719
+193 (+13%) vs SY 2020-21
Alleghany County
Virginia · Public K-12
7 public K-12 schools, roughly 1,719 students, one county, 14,859 residents. That is Alleghany County, Virginia on the numbers. By level, that breaks down as 5 elementary and 1 high schools.
4-year change in Alleghany County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Alleghany County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 67.2% | #73 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,719 | #98 of 118 | #2,352 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 4 | #93 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.0:1 | #40 of 118 | #891 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 82.5% | #45 of 107 | #456 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 31.0% | #98 of 115 | #1,768 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.
Residents
14,859
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
1,719
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,188
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
82.5%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
5
901 students
Middle
0
schools
High
1
818 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Alleghany Highlands Public Schools
1,719 students · 3 districts in Alleghany County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Alleghany 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+
14.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
48
18.5% under 18
Test scores in Alleghany County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- Sharon Elementary· 80.0%
- Alleghany High· 77.0%
- Callaghan Elementary· 75.0%
- Mountain View Elementary· 61.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany High | Covington | High | 09-12 | 818 | · |
| Mountain View Elementary | Covington | Elementary | PK-05 | 415 | · |
| Callaghan Elementary | Covington | Elementary | PK-05 | 270 | · |
| Sharon Elementary | Clifton Forge | Elementary | PK-05 | 216 | · |
| Jackson River Governor's School | Clifton Forge | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Jackson River Tech Ctr | Covington | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Jackson River Tech Ctr | Covington | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
Cities in Alleghany County
About Alleghany County
Alleghany County is a low-population Virginia county of about 14,859 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 1,719 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $56,188, about 15% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 27% noticeably below the Virginia median.
For a sense of the school types, Alleghany County consists of 5 elementary schools (901 students), 1 high school (818), and 1 combined or other schools.
Alleghany Highlands Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,719 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,719 students, expanded 13% from the 1,526 reported in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Alleghany County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data