Galax City Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Galax, Virginia - 3 schools

An equity score of 45/100 ranks Galax City Public Schools #77 of 131 districts in Virginia (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,113 per pupil, Galax City Public Schools ranks #95 of 131 Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,393
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$14,113
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Galax City Public Schools operates 3 public schools serving 1,393 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Galax City.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,113 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 131 Virginia districts by per-pupil spending. See how Virginia compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 24.6% local, 52.0% state, and 23.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 45/100, ranked #77 of 131 in Virginia against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 294.8:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.0% White, 33.6% Hispanic or Latino, 4.2% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Galax High, with a diversity index of 55.3/100.

Its largest campus is Galax Elementary, enrolling 667 students (47% of the district's total enrollment).

Galax Elementary accounts for 46.5% of all Galax City Public Schools student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Galax City Public Schools a distant remainder — means Galax City Public Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Galax City Public Schools reports 93.0% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is above 87.5%, so economic need is widespread across the measured student population. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Galax City Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 295:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Galax City Public Schools is typically wider than the Galax City Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Galax City Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 15.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Galax City Public Schools is typically wider than the Galax City Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

23.4%
Federal
52.0%
State
24.6%
Local

Funding Equity

45
Equity Score
77 / 131
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Galax City Public Schools.

White 58.0%
Hispanic or Latino 33.6%
African American 4.2%
Multiracial 3.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 54.7/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Galax City Public Schools's schools, about the same as the Virginia average of 53.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Galax High 55.3
  2. 2 Galax Elementary 54.7
  3. 3 Galax Middle 54.1

Programs & Resources

294.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Galax City Public Schools

School Enrollment
Galax Elementary
667
Galax High
432
Galax Middle
335

How Galax City Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Virginia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Brunswick County Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Northampton County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Richmond County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Nelson County Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Cumberland County Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Galax City Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Virginia

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Fairfax County Public Schools
179,858 students · 223 schools · $18,975/pupil
Compare vs Galax City Public Schools →
Loudoun County Public Schools
81,678 students · 99 schools · $19,934/pupil
Compare vs Galax City Public Schools →
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
65,456 students · 87 schools · $14,888/pupil
Compare vs Galax City Public Schools →
Chesterfield County Public Schools
63,916 students · 73 schools · $12,776/pupil
Compare vs Galax City Public Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Galax City Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Fairfax County Public Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Galax City Public Schools?

Galax City Public Schools has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,393 students.

How much does Galax City Public Schools spend per student?

Galax City Public Schools spends $14,113 per student. The district has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #77 in Virginia.

What is the demographic composition of Galax City Public Schools?

Galax City Public Schools students are 58.0% White, 33.6% Hispanic or Latino, 4.2% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Galax City Public Schools?

Galax City Public Schools has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #77 out of 131 districts in Virginia.