Total enrollment
3,345
-207 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Russell County
Virginia · Public K-12
Russell County runs 14 public K-12 schools inside Virginia, with the county population around 25,538. The mix is 9 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high.
4-year change in Russell County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
-2 (-18%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Russell County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 73.4% | #40 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,583 | #69 of 118 | #1,658 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #46 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.9:1 | #37 of 118 | #883 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 91.1% | #32 of 107 | #260 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 5.9% | #115 of 115 | #2,605 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.
Russell County school rankings
Residents
25,538
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
14
2 districts
Enrollment
3,583
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$50,012
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
91.1%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
9
2,004 students
Middle
1
301 students
High
3
1,278 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Russell County Public Schools
3,583 students · 2 districts in Russell County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Russell 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+
13.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
47
18.9% under 18
Test scores in Russell County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Belfast Elementary· 98.0%
- Honaker Elementary· 85.0%
- Honaker High· 84.0%
- Lebanon High· 81.0%
- Castlewood High· 75.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Castlewood Elementary· 65.0%
- Lebanon Middle· 72.0%
- Lebanon Elementary· 73.0%
- Castlewood High· 75.0%
- Lebanon High· 81.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honaker Elementary | Honaker | Elementary | PK-07 | 712 | · |
| Lebanon High | Lebanon | High | 08-12 | 571 | · |
| Honaker High | Honaker | High | 08-12 | 422 | · |
| Castlewood Elementary | Castlewood | Elementary | PK-07 | 354 | · |
| Lebanon Middle | Lebanon | Middle | 05-07 | 301 | · |
| Lebanon Elementary | Lebanon | Elementary | 02-04 | 292 | · |
| Castlewood High | Castlewood | High | 08-12 | 285 | · |
| Lebanon Primary | Lebanon | Elementary | PK-01 | 267 | · |
| Copper Creek Elementary | Castlewood | Elementary | PK-01 | 145 | · |
| Belfast Elementary | Rosedale | Elementary | PK-05 | 141 | · |
| Swords Creek Elementary | Swords Creek | Elementary | PK-07 | 93 | · |
| Project Bridge/Russell Co | Lebanon | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Russell County Voc. | Lebanon | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| STEM for LIFE Governor's Academy | Lebanon | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Russell County
About Russell County
Russell County is a compact county of about 25,538 residents in Virginia. Its public-school system teaches approximately 3,583 students across 14 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $50,012, about 13% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 11%. That income level is 35% lower than the Virginia median.
For a sense of the school types, Russell County comprises 9 elementary schools (2,004 students), 1 middle school (301), 3 high schools (1,278), and 1 combined or other schools.
Russell County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,583 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment declined 6%: 3,552 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,345 in SY 2024-25. Russell County now counts 9 public schools, down from 11 in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Russell County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data