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Schools in Forest · Bedford County Public Schools

Forest’s public schools score below 73% of Virginia districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Forest, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 77% of Forest’s students graduate on time, below the Virginia average (89%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Virginia, not nationally.

#228of 250 Virginia townsK–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

55%

▲ 1 pts vs VA 54%

2020–21

Graduate on time

77%

▼ 12 pts vs VA 89%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$13.8K

▼ 20% vs VA $17.2K

FY2024

Students per teacher

14.7

VA 13.9 · larger classes

Schools in town

4,217 students on the public path

In brief

Forest’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 199 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Forest’s, its schools beat 11%, lower than their 27% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,769 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then three middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Blue Ridge Montessori School (private) is 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 Forest’s grade

B Test scoresD⁻ Graduation

C: better than 27% of Virginia school districts, #228 of 250 Virginia towns. Test scores are above the Virginia average; graduation is below it.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 27%

Lower resultsHigher results

Virginia towns with similar household incomes (199)Better than 11%

C⁻C⁺A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,405 test results and a graduating class of 720 could put Forest anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Forest’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,405 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Forest · depends on your address

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Grades PK–5 · 567 students · 16:1 students per teacher

A⁻

Forest Elementary

Grades PK–5 · 384 students · 18:1 students per teacher

A⁺

The path, start to finish

PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA⁻ to A⁺

6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to A⁻

9–12Jefferson Forest HighBedford County Public SchoolsB⁺

Forest’s public schools are run by Bedford County Public Schools, which also serves Bedford. 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.

Bedford County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 19 schools · 8,930 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 14.7 per teacher (VA 13.9)

$13,769VA $17,169 · FY2024

Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math55%

State average 54.4% · 4405 students tested

Forest vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Forest	C	Bedford County
Lynchburg	D	Lynchburg City

Every school in Forest

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 Forestby address

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

A⁻

567 students16:1Rate it →

Forest Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

A⁺

384 students18:1Rate it →

Jefferson Forest High

High · Grades 9–12

B⁺

1,282 students17:1Rate it →

Also serving Forestin other towns

Forest Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8

A⁻

854 students14:1Rate it →

Staunton River Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Moneta

C⁺

612 students14:1Rate it →

Liberty Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bedford

C⁺

518 students13:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Blue Ridge Montessori School

Elementary · Grades PK–K · Lynchburg

Private · Nonsectarian

37 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Forest’s schools

Are Forest’s schools good?

On Virginia’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Forest children attend score below 73% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #228 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 11%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Forest in?

Bedford County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,930 students in 19 schools (2024–25).

Where do Forest kids go to high school?

Jefferson Forest High, with 1,282 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Forest’s graduation rate?

77% of the class of 2023 in Bedford County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Forest spend per student?

$13,769 in Bedford County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Forest?

Yes: Blue Ridge Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 37 students).

Parents talk

What Forest families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Forest → 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.