Public schools in Amherst, VA
5 open public schools with an address in Amherst, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,279
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Amherst public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Amherst, VA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,279 students, an average of 456 per school. The largest campus is Amherst County High (1,240 students), and the largest elementary school is Amherst Elementary (307).
Every listed school belongs to Amherst County Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.3:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 81% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Amherst
Elementary schools in Amherst
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Elementary Amherst County Public Schools | PK–05 | 307 | 14:1 | |
| Central Elementary Amherst County Public Schools | PK–05 | 268 | 10.7:1 | |
| Temperance Elementary Amherst County Public Schools | PK–05 | 93 | 13.3:1 |
Middle schools in Amherst
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Middle Amherst County Public Schools | 06–08 | 371 | 13:1 |
High schools in Amherst
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst County High Amherst County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,240 | 14.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White66.1%
- Hispanic5.6%
- Black16.9%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial9.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Amherst schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,279 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Amherst
How many public schools are in Amherst, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Amherst: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 2,279 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Amherst?
All listed public schools with an address in Amherst belong to Amherst County Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Amherst?
Amherst County High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Amherst, with 1,240 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Amherst?
No school with an address in Amherst is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Virginia.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Amherst schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Amherst public schools is 13.3:1, similar to the Virginia school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Amherst guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Virginia cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Virginia cities