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State Street - Bristol, TN-VAPhoto: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Bristol · Bristol City Public Schools

Bristol’s public schools score below 60% of Virginia districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Bristol, 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.

#216of 250 Virginia townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Virginia state tests taken in spring 2021, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Math proficiency
57%
▲ 3 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 5–9 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.3K
▲ 7% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.3
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
2,167 students on the public path
In brief

Bristol’s schools, in brief

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $18,296 per student in FY2024, against $17,169 across Virginia. 21% of its revenue that year was federal (Virginia 10%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

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

From grade 2 the district’s path is Virginia Intermediate School, then Virginia Middle, then Virginia High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Annes School (private), Morrison School (private) and Minnick School - Bristol (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Bristol’s grade

B+ Test scoresD Graduation

C+: better than 40% of Virginia school districts, #216 of 250 Virginia towns. Test scores are above the Virginia average; graduation is below it.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 40%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (182)Better than 37%
CB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 957 test results and a graduating class of 167 could put Bristol anywhere from C to B+.

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–1Virginia Primary SchoolBristol City Public SchoolsNo scores
2–5Virginia Intermediate SchoolBristol City Public SchoolsNo scores
6–8Virginia MiddleBristol City Public SchoolsB−
9–12Virginia HighBristol City Public SchoolsB+

Bristol’s public schools are run by Bristol City 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.

Bristol City Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,167 students · 12.3 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$18,296VA $17,169 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math57%
State average 54.4% · 957 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 21% of the Bristol district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 10% across Virginia, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Bristol vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BristolC+Bristol City

Bristol, TN borders Bristol but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.

Every school in Bristol

7 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 Bristolby address
Virginia Primary School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
422 students11:1Rate it →
Virginia Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades 2–5
655 students19:1Rate it →
Virginia Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
452 students9:1Rate it →
Virginia High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
638 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Annes School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
152 students10:1Rate it →
Morrison School
Grades PK–12
Private · Special education
61 students5:1Rate it →
Minnick School - Bristol
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
19 students4:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Highlands Juvenile Detention Home and Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City).

Questions about Bristol’s schools

Are Bristol’s schools good?

On Virginia’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bristol children attend score below 60% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #216 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 37%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bristol in?

Bristol City Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,167 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Bristol kids go to high school?

Virginia High, with 638 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Bristol’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Bristol City Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Bristol spend per student?

$18,296 in Bristol City Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bristol?

Yes: St. Annes School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 152 students), Morrison School (special education, grades PK–12, 61 students) and Minnick School - Bristol (religious, grades K–8, 19 students).

Parents talk

What Bristol families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bristol → 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.