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Amherst VA Historical Society in FallPhoto: Andrew Bain · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Schools in Amherst · Amherst County Public Schools

Amherst’s public schools outscore 56% of Virginia districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Amherst, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Amherst’s districts is 40%, below the Virginia average (54%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Virginia, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Virginia state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Math proficiency
40%
▼ 14 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 7 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.2K
▼ 12% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.2
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
2,387 students on the public path
In brief

Amherst’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 215 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Amherst’s, its schools beat 51%, lower than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,160 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Amherst’s grade

C Test scoresA Graduation

B: better than 56% of Virginia school districts. Graduation is above the Virginia average; test scores are below it.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (215)Better than 51%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,913 test results and a graduating class of 298 could put Amherst anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Amherst’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,913 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Amherst, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Amherst ElementaryAmherst County Public SchoolsB
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC−
9–12Amherst County HighAmherst County Public SchoolsB

Amherst’s public schools are run by Amherst County Public Schools. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Amherst County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 3,900 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 13.2 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$15,160VA $17,169 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math40%
State average 54.4% · 1913 students tested

Amherst vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Amherst’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
AmherstBAmherst County

Every school in Amherst

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Virginia’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Amherstby address
Amherst Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
307 students14:1Rate it →
Amherst County High
High · Grades 9–12
B
1,240 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Amherstin other towns
Monelison Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Madison Heights
C−
469 students12:1Rate it →
Amherst Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
371 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Amherst’s schools

Are Amherst’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Virginia: the public schools Amherst children attend outscore 56% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 51%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Amherst in?

Amherst County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,900 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Amherst kids go to high school?

Amherst County High, with 1,240 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Amherst’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Amherst County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Amherst spend per student?

$15,160 in Amherst County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Amherst families are saying about school.

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Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Amherst → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Virginia. Stars are from neighbors.