Can I use Smyth County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Smyth County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Smyth County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Smyth County?

Start with the 15 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Smyth County Schools & Education

Name: Smyth County, Virginia Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Smyth County, Virginia

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 89.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,577

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,941

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#52

of 127 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Smyth County

Measured School Summary

Smyth County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.0%.

Funding Context

At $7,577 per pupil, Smyth County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 4% above the Virginia average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Smyth 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

15 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

56/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #52 of 127 Virginia counties with school score data.

Completion

91.0%

2.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,577

$364 below the state average

School coverage

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

Smyth County has 15 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Smyth 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.

Dominant-district county

Smyth County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 14 of 15 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#52

of 127 Virginia counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 87% 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.

Smyth County Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

3,981 students

Elementary 7Middle 3High 3Other 1

14 listed schools in this county slice.

Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute

High school only in this slice

0 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Smyth County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 14 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 Smyth County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Smyth County district systems?

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?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Data Story

Smyth County Graduation Rate Surpasses National and State Norms

Education data brief for Smyth County, Virginia.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:Graduation rate

Smyth County reports a graduation rate of 91.0%, outperforming the national average of 87.0% and the Virginia state average of 89.0%. This outcome is reached with a per-pupil expenditure of $7,577, which is lower than the state average of $7,941 and significantly below the national average of $13,000. The county’s composite school score is 56.0, which is slightly higher than the state average of 54.1 and the national median of 50.0. Smyth County Public Schools serves 3,981 students across 14 schools, with an average school size of 306 students. Marion Senior High is the largest facility with 638 students. The county has a mix of 9 rural and 6 town-based schools and includes one special education school. There are currently no charter schools in the county. The district also includes the Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute. Check the NCES Common Core of Data for specific district enrollment details.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Smyth County

Reported Enrollment

3,981

13 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7

Middle3

High4

Other1

2 School Districts in Smyth County

Smyth County Public Schools

Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute

1 school

0 students

15 Public Schools in Smyth 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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

Public schools in Smyth County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
MARION SENIOR HIGH	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Marion, 24354Town: Distant	9–12	High	638
Chilhowie Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Chilhowie, 24319Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	543
MARION MIDDLE	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Marion, 24354Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	431
CHILHOWIE HIGH	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Chilhowie, 24319Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	393
Oak Point Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Marion, 24354Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	359
Marion Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Marion, 24354Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	307
CHILHOWIE MIDDLE	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Chilhowie, 24319Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	306
NORTHWOOD HIGH	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Saltville, 24370Rural: Distant	9–12	High	240
Saltville Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Saltville, 24370Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	195
Atkins Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Atkins, 24311Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	187
NORTHWOOD MIDDLE	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Saltville, 24370Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	151
Rich Valley Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Saltville, 24370Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	130
Sugar Grove Elementary	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Sugar Grove, 24375Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	101
Smyth County Career & Technical Center	Record	Smyth County Public Schools	Marion, 24354Town: Distant	—	Vocational	—
SOUTHWESTERN VA MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE	Record	Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute	Marion, 24354Town: Distant	6–12	Special Education	—

MARION SENIOR HIGH

Smyth County Public Schools

Marion, 24354 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High638 students

Chilhowie Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Chilhowie, 24319 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary543 students

MARION MIDDLE

Smyth County Public Schools

Marion, 24354 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle431 students

CHILHOWIE HIGH

Smyth County Public Schools

Chilhowie, 24319 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High393 students

Oak Point Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Marion, 24354 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary359 students

Marion Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Marion, 24354 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary307 students

CHILHOWIE MIDDLE

Smyth County Public Schools

Chilhowie, 24319 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle306 students

NORTHWOOD HIGH

Smyth County Public Schools

Saltville, 24370 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High240 students

Saltville Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Saltville, 24370 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary195 students

Atkins Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Atkins, 24311 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary187 students

NORTHWOOD MIDDLE

Smyth County Public Schools

Saltville, 24370 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle151 students

Rich Valley Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Saltville, 24370 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary130 students

Sugar Grove Elementary

Smyth County Public Schools

Sugar Grove, 24375 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary101 students

Smyth County Career & Technical Center

Smyth County Public Schools

Marion, 24354 / Town: Distant

RecordVocationalEnrollment not available

SOUTHWESTERN VA MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE

Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute

Marion, 24354 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Special EducationEnrollment not available

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,577

State avg $7,941

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Smyth 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 Smyth County?

Smyth County has a school score of 56/100, which is a midrange 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 Smyth County?

The high school graduation rate in Smyth County is 91.0%, 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 Smyth County spend per student?

Smyth County spends $7,577 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.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Dickenson County

Virginia

-0 pts

56/100

School score

Nelson County

Virginia

-0 pts

56/100

School score

Franklin County

Virginia

-1 pts

56/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed 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.

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