Public schools in Covington, VA
6 open public schools with an address in Covington, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,588
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.6:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Covington public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Covington, VA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,588 students, an average of 518 per school. The largest campus is Alleghany High (818 students), and the largest elementary school is Jeter-Watson Elementary (491).
Every listed school belongs to Alleghany Highlands 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 13.6:1, 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 83% 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 Covington
Elementary schools in Covington
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callaghan Elementary Alleghany Highlands Public Schools | PK–05 | 270 | 15:1 | |
| Jeter-Watson Elementary Alleghany Highlands Public Schools | PK–05 | 491 | 12.9:1 | |
| Mountain View Elementary Alleghany Highlands Public Schools | PK–05 | 415 | 10.9:1 |
Middle schools in Covington
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington Middle Alleghany Highlands Public Schools | 06–08 | 594 | 13.8:1 |
High schools in Covington
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany High Alleghany Highlands Public Schools | 09–12 | 818 | 13.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Covington
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson River Tech Ctr Alleghany Highlands Public Schools · Career and Technical School | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White80.3%
- Hispanic4.9%
- Black7.6%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Covington schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,588 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Covington
How many public schools are in Covington, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Covington: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,588 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Covington?
All listed public schools with an address in Covington belong to Alleghany Highlands 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 Covington?
Alleghany High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Covington, with 818 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Covington?
No school with an address in Covington 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 Covington schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Covington public schools is 13.6:1, 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 Covington 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