Total enrollment
1,092
-132 (-11%) vs SY 2020-21
Essex County
Virginia · Public K-12
Essex County operates 4 public K-12 schools inside Virginia, with combined enrollment of approximately 1,092 (about 273 students per school). By grade band, the county runs 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
4-year change in Essex County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Essex County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 63.7% | #89 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,092 | #116 of 118 | #2,692 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 3 | #110 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #28 of 118 | #702 of 2,655 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 62.3% | #37 of 115 | #459 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
10,623
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
4
2 districts
Enrollment
1,092
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,520
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
101.0%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
2
400 students
Middle
1
299 students
High
1
393 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Essex County Public Schools
1,092 students · 2 districts in Essex County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Essex 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+
16.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
47
17.9% under 18
Test scores in Essex County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Essex High· 86.0%
- James H. Cary Intermediate· 65.0%
- Tappahannock Elementary· 62.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tappahannock Elementary | Tappahannock | Elementary | PK-04 | 400 | · |
| Essex High | Tappahannock | High | 09-12 | 393 | · |
| James H. Cary Intermediate | Tappahannock | Middle | 05-08 | 299 | · |
| Chesapeake Bay Governor's School | Tappahannock | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
Cities in Essex County
About Essex County
In Virginia, Essex County is a thinly populated county of about 10,623 residents. 4 public schools across the county hosts about 1,092 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $56,520, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 26% meaningfully below the Virginia median.
For a sense of the school types, Essex County consists of 2 elementary schools (400 students), 1 middle school (299), and 1 high school (393).
Essex County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,092 students across Essex County.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,092 students, fell 11% from the 1,224 reported in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Essex County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data