Total enrollment
4,496
-194 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Halifax County
Virginia · Public K-12
Halifax County's public-school footprint spans 11 K-12 schools with combined enrollment of about 4,496, the largest district being Halifax County Public Schools. The level mix is 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
4-year change in Halifax County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Halifax County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 65.9% | #80 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,496 | #56 of 118 | #1,443 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 10 | #48 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.1:1 | #17 of 118 | #562 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.5% | #7 of 107 | #65 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 61.1% | #42 of 115 | #511 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.
Halifax County school rankings
Residents
33,639
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
1 districts
Enrollment
4,496
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$52,013
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.5%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
8
2,367 students
Middle
1
847 students
High
1
1,282 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Halifax County Public Schools
4,496 students · 1 district in Halifax County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Halifax 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+
19.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
47
20.4% under 18
Test scores in Halifax County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Halifax County High· 81.0%
- Meadville Elementary· 79.0%
- Scottsburg Elementary· 79.0%
- Clays Mill Elementary· 75.0%
- Halifax County Middle· 66.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- South Boston Elementary· 60.0%
- Cluster Springs Elementary· 65.0%
- Halifax County Middle· 66.0%
- Sinai Elementary· 66.0%
- Sydnor Jennings Elementary· 66.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax County High | South Boston | High | 09-12 | 1,282 | · |
| Halifax County Middle | South Boston | Middle | 06-08 | 847 | · |
| South Boston Elementary | South Boston | Elementary | KG-05 | 683 | · |
| Cluster Springs Elementary | Alton | Elementary | PK-05 | 572 | · |
| Sinai Elementary | Halifax | Elementary | PK-05 | 243 | · |
| Clays Mill Elementary | Scottsburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 236 | · |
| Scottsburg Elementary | Scottsburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 187 | · |
| Meadville Elementary | Nathalie | Elementary | PK-05 | 173 | · |
| Sydnor Jennings Elementary | Nathalie | Elementary | PK-05 | 157 | · |
| South Boston/Halifax Early Learning Center | South Boston | Elementary | PK-PK | 116 | · |
| PACE Academy | Halifax | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Halifax County
About Halifax County
Halifax County is a sparse county of about 33,639 residents in Virginia. Its public-school system educates approximately 4,496 students across 11 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $52,013, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 32% meaningfully below the Virginia median.
On the school-mix side, Halifax County comprises 8 elementary schools (2,367 students), 1 middle school (847), 1 high school (1,282), and 1 combined or other schools.
Halifax County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 4,496 students across Halifax County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 4%: 4,690 students in SY 2020-21 versus 4,496 in SY 2024-25.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Halifax County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. 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