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SouthBostonVirginiaPhoto: Eduardo Montes-Bradley · CC BY-SA 4.0
D
Schools in South Boston · Halifax County Public Schools

South Boston’s public schools score below 89% of Virginia districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in South Boston’s districts is 29%, below the Virginia average (54%). The grade covers the public school district serving South Boston, 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.

#241of 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
29%
▼ 25 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
84%
▼ 5 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.3K
▼ 5% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.1
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
2,928 students on the public path
In brief

South Boston’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 131 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of South Boston’s, its schools beat 5%, lower than their 11% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,266 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Halifax County Middle, then Halifax County High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

CH Friend School (private) and Centerville Christian School (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 South Boston’s grade

D Test scoresC− Graduation

D: better than 11% of Virginia school districts, #241 of 250 Virginia towns. Both inputs trail the Virginia average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 11%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (131)Better than 5%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,005 test results and a graduating class of 351 could put South Boston anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of South Boston’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,005 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5South Boston ElementaryHalifax County Public SchoolsD
6–8Halifax County MiddleHalifax County Public SchoolsC−
9–12Halifax County HighHalifax County Public SchoolsC

South Boston’s public schools are run by Halifax County Public Schools, which also serves Halifax, Scottsburg and Virgilina. 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.

Halifax County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 10 schools · 4,496 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.1 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$16,266VA $17,169 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math29%
State average 54.4% · 2005 students tested

South Boston vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
South BostonDHalifax County

Every school in South Boston

6 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 South Bostonby address
South Boston/Halifax Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
116 students10:1Rate it →
South Boston Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
683 students15:1Rate it →
Halifax County Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
847 students12:1Rate it →
Halifax County High
High · Grades 9–12
C
1,282 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
CH Friend School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
149 students12:1Rate it →
Centerville Christian School
Grades K–10
Private · Religious
19 students10:1Rate it →

1 duplicate private-school records merged.

Questions about South Boston’s schools

Are South Boston’s schools good?

On Virginia’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools South Boston children attend score below 89% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #241 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 5%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is South Boston in?

Halifax County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,496 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do South Boston kids go to high school?

Halifax County High, with 1,282 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is South Boston’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Halifax County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does South Boston spend per student?

$16,266 in Halifax County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in South Boston?

Yes: CH Friend School (religious, grades PK–12, 149 students) and Centerville Christian School (religious, grades K–10, 19 students).

Parents talk

What South Boston families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near South Boston → 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.