Total enrollment
4,132
+23 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Smyth County
Virginia · Public K-12
Smyth County's school count of 16 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 4,132 students inside Virginia, around 14% of the county population. That works out to 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Smyth County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Smyth County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 76.6% | #26 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,132 | #61 of 118 | #1,508 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #33 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.8:1 | #13 of 118 | #492 of 2,655 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 22.1% | #107 of 115 | #2,054 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.
Smyth County school rankings
Residents
29,420
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
2 districts
Enrollment
4,132
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$49,883
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
101.8%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
9
2,149 students
Middle
3
832 students
High
4
1,151 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Smyth County Public Schools
4,132 students · 2 districts in Smyth County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Smyth 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+
16.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
46
19.3% under 18
Test scores in Smyth County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Northwood High· 98.0%
- Saltville Elementary· 90.0%
- Chilhowie High· 89.0%
- Rich Valley Elementary· 89.0%
- Chilhowie Middle· 84.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Oak Point Elementary· 64.0%
- Marion Middle· 67.0%
- Atkins Elementary· 79.0%
- Chilhowie Elementary· 80.0%
- Marion Elementary· 82.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chilhowie Elementary | Chiilhowie | Elementary | PK-05 | 589 | · |
| Marion Senior High | Marion | High | 09-12 | 563 | · |
| Marion Middle | Marion | Middle | 06-08 | 401 | · |
| Chilhowie High | Chilhowie | High | 09-12 | 384 | · |
| Oak Point Elementary | Marion | Elementary | PK-05 | 352 | · |
| Smyth County Virtual | Marion | Elementary | KG-08 | 339 | · |
| Marion Elementary | Marion | Elementary | PK-05 | 298 | · |
| Chilhowie Middle | Chilhowie | Middle | 06-08 | 273 | · |
| Northwood High | Saltville | High | 09-12 | 204 | · |
| Saltville Elementary | Saltville | Elementary | PK-05 | 189 | · |
| Atkins Elementary | Atkins | Elementary | PK-05 | 168 | · |
| Northwood Middle | Saltville | Middle | 06-08 | 158 | · |
| Rich Valley Elementary | Saltville | Elementary | PK-05 | 126 | · |
| Sugar Grove Elementary | Sugar Grove | Elementary | PK-05 | 88 | · |
| Smyth County Career & Technical Center | Marion | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Southwestern Va Mental Health Institute | Marion | High | 06-12 | · | · |
Cities in Smyth County
About Smyth County
Smyth County is a small Virginia county of about 29,420 residents, home to 16 public schools and roughly 4,132 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $49,883, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 12%. That income level is 35% lower than the Virginia median.
For a sense of the school types, Smyth County covers 9 elementary schools (2,149 students), 3 middle schools (832), and 4 high schools (1,151).
The largest single district in Smyth County is Smyth County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 4,132 students.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,132 students, stayed largely flat from the 4,109 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Smyth County gained 1 school, going from 13 to 14.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Smyth County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data