Public schools in Bristol, VA
10 open public schools with an address in Bristol, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,055
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.2:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Bristol public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Bristol, VA: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,055 students, an average of 507 per school. The largest campus is Virginia Intermediate School (655 students).
Bristol City Public Schools operates the most schools here (4), and 2 regular districts have at least one Bristol campus, plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 12.2:1, lower than 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.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 82% 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 Bristol
Bristol City Public Schools
Public school district
4 schools in Bristol · 5 total
Washington County Public Schools
Public school district
4 schools in Bristol · 17 total
Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City
Specialized public school district
1 school in Bristol
Department of Education State-Operated Educ Prgms
State operated agency
1 school in Bristol · 23 total
Elementary schools in Bristol
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Point Elementary Washington County Public Schools | PK–05 | 582 | 14.4:1 | |
| Valley Institute Elementary Washington County Public Schools | PK–05 | 250 | 9.8:1 | |
| Virginia Intermediate School Bristol City Public Schools | 02–05 | 655 | 18.7:1 | |
| Virginia Primary School Bristol City Public Schools | PK–01 | 422 | 11.5:1 |
Middle schools in Bristol
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Middle Bristol City Public Schools | 06–08 | 452 | 9:1 | |
| Wallace Middle Washington County Public Schools | 06–08 | 443 | 12.5:1 |
High schools in Bristol
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John S. Battle High Washington County Public Schools | 09–12 | 613 | 14.8:1 | |
| Virginia High Bristol City Public Schools | 09–12 | 638 | 11.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Bristol
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City · Alternative School | Not reported | — | — | |
| Highlands Juvenile Detention Home Department of Education State-Operated Educ Prgms · Alternative School | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White82.2%
- Hispanic4.6%
- Black4.7%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Bristol schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,055 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bristol
How many public schools are in Bristol, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Bristol: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 4,055 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bristol?
Schools with an address in Bristol belong to 4 education agencies, led by Bristol City Public Schools (4 schools), Washington County Public Schools (4 schools), Crossroads Alternative/Bristol City (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Bristol?
Virginia High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bristol, with 638 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bristol?
No school with an address in Bristol 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 Bristol schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bristol public schools is 12.2:1, lower than 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 Bristol 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