schoolsbycounty

Northumberland County Schools & Education

School Score

86/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

97.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

97.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 89.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,723

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,941

School Score

86/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#6

of 127 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Northumberland County

Measured School Summary

Northumberland County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 86/100 and a graduation rate of 97.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Northumberland County spends $8,723 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 59% above the Virginia average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 8.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Northumberland 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

3 public schools and 1 district 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

86/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #6 of 127 Virginia counties with school score data.

Completion

97.0%

8.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,723

$782 above the state average

School coverage

3

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Northumberland County has 3 public schools across 1 district, 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.

Parent decision brief

What Northumberland 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

Northumberland 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

#6

of 127 Virginia counties with school score data. The county score is 32 points above 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.

Northumberland County Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

1,200 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Northumberland County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Northumberland County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

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 Northumberland County, Virginia

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.

Streamlined Rural Schooling

Northumberland County maintains a highly centralized system with only 3 public schools—one for each primary level. A single school district serves the county's total enrollment of 1,200 students.

Exceptional Graduation Performance

The county achieves an impressive 97% graduation rate, significantly beating the state average of 89%. This success is supported by a per-pupil expenditure of $8,723, which is notably higher than the Virginia state average.

A Single Dedicated District

Northumberland County Public Schools is the sole district, ensuring unified administration for all 1,200 students. There are no charter schools, focusing resources entirely on the traditional public elementary, middle, and high schools.

A Fully Rural Educational Experience

Every school in the county is classified as rural, reflecting the area's pastoral character. Northumberland Elementary is the largest site with 541 students, while the overall average school size is 400.

School Overview

Total Schools

3

in Northumberland County

Reported Enrollment

1,200

3 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary1
Middle1
High1
Other0

1 School District in Northumberland County

Northumberland County Public Schools

3 schools
1,200 students enrolled

3 Public Schools in Northumberland 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 data

Level

Showing 3 of 3 matching schools

Northumberland Elementary

Northumberland County Public Schools

Heathsville, 22473 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary541 students

NORTHUMBERLAND HIGH

Northumberland County Public Schools

Heathsville, 22473 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High383 students

NORTHUMBERLAND MIDDLE

Northumberland County Public Schools

Heathsville, 22473 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle276 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,723

State avg $7,941

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Northumberland County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Virginia counties have the highest graduation rates?
Alleghany County (97.0%), Clarke County (97.0%), and Falls Church city (97.0%) currently lead Virginia among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Virginia?
Across Virginia counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,941. The highest current county values are Surry County ($12,490), Highland County ($12,429), and Arlington County ($11,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Northumberland County?
Northumberland County has a school score of 86/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Northumberland County?
The high school graduation rate in Northumberland County is 97.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Northumberland County spend per student?
Northumberland County spends $8,723 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Northumberland County, Virginia — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Northumberland County, Virginia?

Northumberland County maintains a highly centralized system with only 3 public schools—one for each primary level. A single school district serves the county's total enrollment of 1,200 students.

How do schools in Northumberland County perform academically?

The county achieves an impressive 97% graduation rate, significantly beating the state average of 89%. This success is supported by a per-pupil expenditure of $8,723, which is notably higher than the Virginia state average.

What are the major school districts in Northumberland County, Virginia?

Northumberland County Public Schools is the sole district, ensuring unified administration for all 1,200 students. There are no charter schools, focusing resources entirely on the traditional public elementary, middle, and high schools.

What is the school experience like in Northumberland County?

Every school in the county is classified as rural, reflecting the area's pastoral character. Northumberland Elementary is the largest site with 541 students, while the overall average school size is 400.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.