Total enrollment
2,167
-47 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Bristol city
Virginia · Public K-12
Public-school families in Bristol city pick from 10 schools serving the county's roughly 3,238 K-12 students, with a mix of 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high.
4-year change in Bristol city
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
-2 (-33%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Bristol city ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 69.4% | #65 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,238 | #76 of 118 | #1,762 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #58 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #27 of 118 | #692 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.9% | #1 of 107 | #33 of 2,526 |
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.
Bristol city school rankings
Residents
16,849
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
3,238
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$50,404
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.9%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
8
2,148 students
Middle
1
452 students
High
1
638 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bristol City Public Schools
3,238 students · 3 districts in Bristol city
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bristol city 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+
24.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.3%
civilian labor
Median age
43
19.6% under 18
Test scores in Bristol city
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Virginia High· 81.0%
- Virginia Middle· 74.0%
- Virginia Intermediate School· 70.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Intermediate School | Bristol | Elementary | 02-05 | 655 | · |
| Virginia High | Bristol | High | 09-12 | 638 | · |
| Virginia Middle | Bristol | Middle | 06-08 | 452 | · |
| Joseph Van Pelt Elementary | Bristol | Elementary | PK-05 | 425 | · |
| Virginia Primary School | Bristol | Elementary | PK-01 | 422 | · |
| Stonewall Jackson Elementary | Bristol | Elementary | PK-05 | 263 | · |
| Washington-Lee Elementary | Bristol | Elementary | PK-05 | 219 | · |
| Highland View Elementary | Bristol | Elementary | PK-05 | 164 | · |
| Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City | Bristol | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Highlands Juvenile Detention Home | Bristol | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
Cities in Bristol city
About Bristol city
Across the rural-scale Virginia county of Bristol city of about 16,849 residents, the public-school footprint covers 10 schools and about 3,238 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $50,404, about 25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 34% lower than the Virginia median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Bristol city spans 8 elementary schools (2,148 students), 1 middle school (452), and 1 high school (638).
Bristol City Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,238 students across Bristol city.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 2,214 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,167 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Bristol city closed 2 schools, going from 6 to 4.
On this page, the community for Bristol city discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data