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Halifax County

Virginia · Public K-12

Halifax County's public-school footprint spans 11 K-12 campuses 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.

7-year change in Halifax County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,496
-605 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
10
-1 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
46%
was 51%
% Hispanic
6%
was 3%
% Black
41%
was 42%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
1 districts
Enrollment
4,496
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
White
60%
Hispanic
3%
Black
35%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
46%
Hispanic
6%
Black
41%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
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%.

See all 9 schools in Halifax County ranked by score →

All schools (11)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Halifax County HighSouth BostonHigh09-121,282·
Halifax County MiddleSouth BostonMiddle06-08847·
South Boston ElementarySouth BostonElementaryKG-05683·
Cluster Springs ElementaryAltonElementaryPK-05572·
Sinai ElementaryHalifaxElementaryPK-05243·
Clays Mill ElementaryScottsburgElementaryPK-05236·
Scottsburg ElementaryScottsburgElementaryPK-05187·
Meadville ElementaryNathalieElementaryPK-05173·
Sydnor Jennings ElementaryNathalieElementaryPK-05157·
South Boston/Halifax Early Learning CenterSouth BostonElementaryPK-PK116·
PACE AcademyHalifaxCombinedM-M··

Cities in Halifax County

South Boston4 schoolsHalifax2 schoolsNathalie2 schoolsScottsburg2 schoolsAlton1 school

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 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 12%: 5,101 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,496 in SY 2024-25. Halifax County now counts 10 public schools, down from 11 in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 51% to 46% over the same window.

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

How many public schools are in Halifax County?
Halifax County, Virginia has 11 public K-12 schools serving approximately 4,496 students.
How many high schools are in Halifax County?
Halifax County, Virginia has 1 public high school, serving approximately 1,282 students.
How many middle schools are in Halifax County?
Halifax County, Virginia has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 847 students.
How many elementary schools are in Halifax County?
Halifax County, Virginia has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,367 students.
What is the largest school district in Halifax County?
Halifax County Public Schools is the largest school district in Halifax County, serving approximately 4,496 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Halifax County?
Halifax County, Virginia has a population of approximately 33,639, with a median age of 47. About 20.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Halifax County?
Median household income in Halifax County is $52,013, below the Virginia average of $76,527. About 11.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Halifax County?
Approximately 19.7% of adults 25 and older in Halifax County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Halifax County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 99.5% of students in Halifax County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Virginia county average of 75.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Halifax County schools?
Across Halifax County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.4 to 1.

Halifax County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data