Essex County Schools & Education
Essex County, Vermont
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
69.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
69.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 81.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,993
National avg $13,239
State avg $11,012
School Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#13
of 14 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Essex County
Measured School Summary
Essex County has midrange measured school signals (score: 44/100) with a graduation rate of 69.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
Essex County spends $9,993 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 20% below the Vermont average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 12.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Essex County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
5 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
44/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #13 of 14 Vermont counties with school score data.
Completion
69.0%
12.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,993
$1,019 below the state average
School coverage
5
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Essex County has 5 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Essex County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Small-system county
Essex County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#13
of 14 Vermont counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Canaan School District
High school only in this slice
169 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Brighton School District
Elementary school only in this slice
135 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Canaan School District is the largest listed district slice, with 2 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Essex County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Essex County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Essex County, Vermont
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Tiny Schools Serving Vermont’s Far Northeast
Essex County operates the state's smallest public school footprint with just five schools across two districts. These facilities serve only 520 total students, providing an incredibly intimate educational environment.
Low Graduation Rates Present Challenges for Essex
The county graduation rate is 69%, falling below both the state average of 81.3% and the national average of 87%. Per-pupil spending of $9,993 is also lower than state benchmarks, though school scores remain competitive with a 48.9 rating.
Two Main Districts Manage the Rural Landscape
The Canaan School District and Brighton School District handle the bulk of local enrollment, with Canaan serving 169 students. There are zero charter schools in the county, emphasizing the role of traditional local districts.
Purely Rural Education with Very Small Classes
Every school in Essex County is classified as rural, with an average school size of only 130 students. The largest facility is Canaan Schools with 169 students, while Lunenburg & Gilman Schools serve just 60 children.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Essex County
Reported Enrollment
520
5 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Essex County
Canaan School District
Brighton School District
5 Public Schools in Essex County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 5 of 5 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canaan Schools | Record | Canaan School District | Canaan, 05903Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 169 |
| Concord Graded/Middle School | Record | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Concord, 05824Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 156 |
| Brighton Elementary School | Record | Brighton School District | Island Pond, 05846Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 135 |
| Lunenburg & Gilman Schools | Record | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Gilman, 05904Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 60 |
| Canaan High School CTE Program | Record | Canaan School District | Canaan, 05903Rural: Remote | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Concord Graded/Middle School
Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
Concord, 05824 / Rural: Distant
Brighton Elementary School
Brighton School District
Island Pond, 05846 / Rural: Remote
Lunenburg & Gilman Schools
Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
Gilman, 05904 / Rural: Distant
Canaan High School CTE Program
Canaan School District
Canaan, 05903 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,993
State avg $11,012
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Essex County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Vermont counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Vermont?
How should I read the school score in Essex County?
What is the graduation rate in Essex County?
How much does Essex County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Essex County, Vermont — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Essex County, Vermont?
Essex County operates the state's smallest public school footprint with just five schools across two districts. These facilities serve only 520 total students, providing an incredibly intimate educational environment.
How do schools in Essex County perform academically?
The county graduation rate is 69%, falling below both the state average of 81.3% and the national average of 87%. Per-pupil spending of $9,993 is also lower than state benchmarks, though school scores remain competitive with a 48.9 rating.
What are the major school districts in Essex County, Vermont?
The Canaan School District and Brighton School District handle the bulk of local enrollment, with Canaan serving 169 students. There are zero charter schools in the county, emphasizing the role of traditional local districts.
What is the school experience like in Essex County?
Every school in Essex County is classified as rural, with an average school size of only 130 students. The largest facility is Canaan Schools with 169 students, while Lunenburg & Gilman Schools serve just 60 children.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.