Public schools in Forest, VA
5 open public schools with an address in Forest, 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
3,417
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.1:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Forest public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Forest, VA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,417 students, an average of 683 per school. The largest campus is Jefferson Forest High (1,282 students), and the largest elementary school is Thomas Jefferson Elementary (567).
Every listed school belongs to Bedford 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 16.1:1, higher 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.
About 23% 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 Forest
Elementary schools in Forest
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Elementary Bedford County Public Schools | PK–05 | 384 | 17.6:1 | |
| New London Academy Elementary Bedford County Public Schools | PK–05 | 330 | 15:1 | |
| Thomas Jefferson Elementary Bedford County Public Schools | PK–05 | 567 | 16.1:1 |
Middle schools in Forest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Middle Bedford County Public Schools | 06–08 | 854 | 13.9:1 |
High schools in Forest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Forest High Bedford County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,282 | 17.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White75.1%
- Hispanic6.9%
- Black6.9%
- Asian4.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial6.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Forest schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,417 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Forest
How many public schools are in Forest, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Forest: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 3,417 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Forest?
All listed public schools with an address in Forest belong to Bedford 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 Forest?
Jefferson Forest High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Forest, with 1,282 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Forest?
No school with an address in Forest 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 Forest schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Forest public schools is 16.1:1, higher 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 Forest 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