Total enrollment
1,492
-104 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
Nelson County
Virginia · Public K-12
Across Nelson County, 4 public K-12 schools educate around 1,492 students, roughly 1 in 10 residents. The level mix runs 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high.
4-year change in Nelson 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 Nelson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 74.9% | #31 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,492 | #107 of 118 | #2,482 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 4 | #104 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.7:1 | #11 of 118 | #459 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 84.5% | #41 of 107 | #428 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 48.7% | #75 of 115 | #1,160 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
14,732
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
4
1 districts
Enrollment
1,492
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$72,589
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
84.5%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
2
678 students
Middle
1
328 students
High
1
486 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Nelson County Public Schools
1,492 students · 1 district in Nelson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Nelson 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+
36.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
51
17.4% under 18
Test scores in Nelson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- Nelson County High· 88.0%
- Nelson Middle· 77.0%
- Rockfish River Elementary· 71.0%
- Tye River Elementary· 69.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County High | Lovingston | High | 09-12 | 486 | · |
| Tye River Elementary | Arrington | Elementary | PK-05 | 360 | · |
| Nelson Middle | Lovingston | Middle | 06-08 | 328 | · |
| Rockfish River Elementary | Afton | Elementary | PK-05 | 318 | · |
Cities in Nelson County
About Nelson County
In Virginia, Nelson County is a small county of about 14,732 residents. 4 public schools across the county enrolls about 1,492 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $72,589 a year, about 36% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 5% lower than the Virginia median.
In terms of grade levels, Nelson County spans 2 elementary schools (678 students), 1 middle school (328), and 1 high school (486).
The largest single district in Nelson County is Nelson County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 1,492 students.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Nelson County has declined 7% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 1,596 students to 1,492.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Nelson County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. 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