Pittsylvania County 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Chatham, Virginia - 18 schools

An equity score of 56/100 ranks Pittsylvania County Public Schools #48 of 131 districts in Virginia (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,616 per pupil, Pittsylvania County Public Schools ranks #108 of 131 Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

7,918
Total Enrollment
18
Schools
$12,616
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Pittsylvania County Public Schools operates 18 public schools serving 7,918 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 combined, 4 high, 4 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Pittsylvania County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,616 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 23.1% local, 62.5% state, and 14.4% 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 56/100, ranked #48 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 18 schools offering Advanced Placement (44 AP courses district-wide), a 291.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 64.9% White, 24.4% African American, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Mount Airy Elementary, with a diversity index of 57.7/100.

Its largest campus is Tunstall High, enrolling 800 students (10% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Mount Airy Elementary, at 141 students, a 6x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Pittsylvania County Public Schools school enrollment varies 5.7× across entities

Pittsylvania County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 141 students (lowest) to 800 students (highest), a spread of 659 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Pittsylvania County Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 81.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Pittsylvania County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 291:1 — 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 Pittsylvania County Public Schools is typically wider than the Pittsylvania County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Pittsylvania County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 18.4% — 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 Pittsylvania County Public Schools is typically wider than the Pittsylvania County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.4%
Federal
62.5%
State
23.1%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
48 / 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 18 schools in Pittsylvania County Public Schools.

White 64.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
African American 24.4%
Multiracial 3.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 50.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Pittsylvania County Public Schools's schools, below the Virginia average of 53.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Mount Airy Elementary 57.7
  2. 2 Dan River High 56.8
  3. 3 Southside Elementary 54.6
  4. 4 Dan River Middle 53.4
  5. 5 Chatham Middle 52.5

Programs & Resources

4 / 18
Schools with AP
44 AP courses total
291.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Pittsylvania County Public Schools

School Enrollment
Tunstall High
800
Twin Springs Elementary
618
Tunstall Middle
609
Chatham High
609
Dan River High
583
Gretna High
507
Gretna Elementary
493
Kentuck Elementary
478
Stony Mill Elementary
440
Dan River Middle
438
Southside Elementary
428
Chatham Middle
406
Gretna Middle
385
John L. Hurt Elementary
257
Chatham Elementary
236
Brosville Elementary
219
Union Hall Elementary
183
Mount Airy Elementary
141

How Pittsylvania County Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Virginia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Campbell County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lynchburg City Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Culpeper County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Manassas City Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Henry County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Pittsylvania County 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.

Compare Pittsylvania County 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 Pittsylvania County Public Schools?

Pittsylvania County Public Schools has 18 schools, including 4 high, 10 combined, 4 middle. Total enrollment is 7,918 students.

How much does Pittsylvania County Public Schools spend per student?

Pittsylvania County Public Schools spends $12,616 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #48 in Virginia.

What is the demographic composition of Pittsylvania County Public Schools?

Pittsylvania County Public Schools students are 64.9% White, 24.4% African American, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 18 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Pittsylvania County Public Schools?

Pittsylvania County Public Schools has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #48 out of 131 districts in Virginia.