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James City Historic DistrictJames City Historic District · Photo: Graham, William E. · Public domain
C−
Schools in Brightwood · Madison County Public Schools

Brightwood’s public schools score below 77% of Virginia districts on tests and graduation

35% of students in Brightwood’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Virginia average (54%). The grade covers the public school district serving Brightwood, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 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
35%
▼ 19 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 0–4 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▼ 13% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.7
VA 13.9
Schools in town
0
1,585 students on the public path
In brief

Brightwood’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 214 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Brightwood’s, its schools beat 11%, lower than their 23% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,884 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Waverly Yowell Elementary, then William H. Wetsel Middle, then Madison County High. 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 Brightwood’s grade

C− Test scoresC Graduation

C−: better than 23% of Virginia school districts. Both inputs trail the Virginia average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 23%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (214)Better than 11%
DC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 792 test results and a graduating class of 141 could put Brightwood anywhere from D to C+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Brightwood’s students in the tested grades sat them (792 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2Madison Primaryin MadisonNo scores
3–5Waverly Yowell Elementaryin MadisonC−
6–8William H. Wetsel Middlein MadisonD
9–12Madison County Highin MadisonC+

Brightwood’s public schools are run by Madison County Public Schools, which also serves Madison. 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.

Madison County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,585 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 13.7 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$14,884VA $17,169 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math35%
State average 54.4% · 792 students tested

Brightwood vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BrightwoodC−Madison County

Every school in Brightwood

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).

Also serving Brightwoodin other towns
Madison Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Madison
365 students14:1Rate it →
Waverly Yowell Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Madison
C−
334 students14:1Rate it →
William H. Wetsel Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Madison
D
356 students11:1Rate it →
Madison County High
High · Grades 9–12 · Madison
C+
530 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Brightwood’s schools

Are Brightwood’s schools good?

On Virginia’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Brightwood children attend score below 77% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 11%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Brightwood in?

Madison County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,585 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Brightwood kids go to high school?

Madison County High in Madison, with 530 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Brightwood’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Madison County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Brightwood spend per student?

$14,884 in Madison County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Brightwood families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Brightwood → 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.