Smyth County Public Schools

Public school district · Smyth County · Virginia · NCES district ID 5103520

Smyth County Public Schools spent $15,196 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 58% of the other Virginia districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $14,972). Its 13 schools enrolled 3,793 students in 2024-25; 62.3% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $15,580 per student, up 2.5% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 90% (Virginia: 88.8%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Virginia districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Smyth County Public Schools in enrollment (3,750 to 4,241 students) and Smyth County Public Schools itself.

Current spending per student, Virginia districts closest in size to Smyth County Public Schools, FY23Fredericksburg City Public Schools $17,150; Hopewell City Public Schools $16,800; Smyth County Public Schools $15,196; Mecklenburg County Public Schools $15,069; Salem City Public Schools $14,892; Amherst County Public Schools $14,301; Pulaski County Public Schools $13,947; Wythe County Public Schools $13,467; Powhatan County Public Schools $13,138; Scott County Public Schools $12,841; State median, 1,000+ students $14,972.10k12k14k16k18kFredericksburg City Public Sch…$17,150Hopewell City Public Schools$16,800Smyth County Public Schools$15,196Mecklenburg County Public Scho…$15,069Salem City Public Schools$14,892Amherst County Public Schools$14,301Pulaski County Public Schools$13,947Wythe County Public Schools$13,467Powhatan County Public Schools$13,138Scott County Public Schools$12,841State median, 1,000+ students $14,972
Current spending per student, Virginia districts closest in size to Smyth County Public Schools, FY23Fredericksburg City Public Schools $17,150; Hopewell City Public Schools $16,800; Smyth County Public Schools $15,196; Mecklenburg County Public Schools $15,069; Salem City Public Schools $14,892; Amherst County Public Schools $14,301; Pulaski County Public Schools $13,947; Wythe County Public Schools $13,467; Powhatan County Public Schools $13,138; Scott County Public Schools $12,841; State median, 1,000+ students $14,972.10k12k14k16k18kFredericksburg City Public Schools$17,150Hopewell City Public Schools$16,800Smyth County Public Schools$15,196Mecklenburg County Public Schools$15,069Salem City Public Schools$14,892Amherst County Public Schools$14,301Pulaski County Public Schools$13,947Wythe County Public Schools$13,467Powhatan County Public Schools$13,138Scott County Public Schools$12,841State median, 1,000+ students $14,972
Current spending per student, Virginia districts closest in size to Smyth County Public Schools, FY23Fredericksburg City Public Schools $17,150; Hopewell City Public Schools $16,800; Smyth County Public Schools $15,196; Mecklenburg County Public Schools $15,069; Salem City Public Schools $14,892; Amherst County Public Schools $14,301; Pulaski County Public Schools $13,947; Wythe County Public Schools $13,467; Powhatan County Public Schools $13,138; Scott County Public Schools $12,841; State median, 1,000+ students $14,972.10k14k18kFredericksburg City Public Schools$17,150Hopewell City Public Schools$16,800Smyth County Public Schools$15,196Mecklenburg County Public Schools$15,069Salem City Public Schools$14,892Amherst County Public Schools$14,301Pulaski County Public Schools$13,947Wythe County Public Schools$13,467Powhatan County Public Schools$13,138Scott County Public Schools$12,841State median, 1,000+ students $14,972
Current spending per student, Virginia districts closest in size to Smyth County Public Schools, FY23Fredericksburg City Public Schools $17,150; Hopewell City Public Schools $16,800; Smyth County Public Schools $15,196; Mecklenburg County Public Schools $15,069; Salem City Public Schools $14,892; Amherst County Public Schools $14,301; Pulaski County Public Schools $13,947; Wythe County Public Schools $13,467; Powhatan County Public Schools $13,138; Scott County Public Schools $12,841; State median, 1,000+ students $14,972.10k14k18kFredericksburg City Public Schools$17,150Hopewell City Public Schools$16,800Smyth County Public Schools$15,196Mecklenburg County Public Schools$15,069Salem City Public Schools$14,892Amherst County Public Schools$14,301Pulaski County Public Schools$13,947Wythe County Public Schools$13,467Powhatan County Public Schools$13,138Scott County Public Schools$12,841State median, 1,000+ students $14,972

Where the money came from

$67,438,000 in revenue: 62.3% state, 23.5% local and 14.2% federal. Total spending including $1,901,000 of capital outlay was $63,577,000, or $15,970 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Smyth County Public Schools revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $41,996,000; Local $15,852,000; Federal $9,590,000; total $67,438,000.
  • State$41,996,000 62%
  • Local$15,852,000 24%
  • Federal$9,590,000 14%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 116 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

3,981 students in 2022-23, 3,892 students in 2023-24, 3,793 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Smyth County Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,981, 2023-24: 3,892, 2024-25: 3,79301k2k3k4k2022-233,9812023-243,8922024-253,793
Smyth County Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,981, 2023-24: 3,892, 2024-25: 3,79301k2k3k4k2022-233,9812023-243,8922024-253,793
Smyth County Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,981, 2023-24: 3,892, 2024-25: 3,79301k2k3k4k2022-233,9812023-243,8922024-253,793
Smyth County Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,981, 2023-24: 3,892, 2024-25: 3,79301k2k3k4k2022-233,9812023-243,8922024-253,793

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-233,981337.511.8
2023-243,892324.412.0
2024-253,793329.211.5

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$18,757,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,712 per student

Smyth County Public Schools booked $18,757,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 353 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $53,136 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 9 in 100 Virginia districts with a figure (state median $61,899, 129 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Virginia teacher salary at $59,965 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$14,012,00074.7%
Special education$3,143,00016.8%
Vocational$1,592,0008.5%
Other programs$10,0000.1%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,988 in 2018-19, $4,138 in 2019-20, $4,186 in 2020-21, $4,455 in 2021-22, $4,712 in 2022-23.

Smyth County Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,988, 2019-20: $4,138, 2020-21: $4,186, 2021-22: $4,455, 2022-23: $4,71202k4k6k2018-19$3,9882019-20$4,1382020-21$4,1862021-22$4,4552022-23$4,712
Smyth County Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,988, 2019-20: $4,138, 2020-21: $4,186, 2021-22: $4,455, 2022-23: $4,71202k4k6k2018-19$3,9882019-20$4,1382020-21$4,1862021-22$4,4552022-23$4,712
Smyth County Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,988, 2019-20: $4,138, 2020-21: $4,186, 2021-22: $4,455, 2022-23: $4,71202k4k6k2018-19$3,9882019-20$4,1382020-21$4,1862021-22$4,4552022-23$4,712
Smyth County Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,988, 2019-20: $4,138, 2020-21: $4,186, 2021-22: $4,455, 2022-23: $4,71202k4k6k2018-19$3,9882019-20$4,1382020-21$4,1862021-22$4,4552022-23$4,712

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

Graduation rate, class of 2023

90% of the 314 students in Smyth County Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 88.8% across Virginia. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtVirginia
Four-year graduation rate90%88.8%
Students in the class31499,059

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

7 elementary schools, 1,810 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Chilhowie Elementary58914.4100.0%Schoolwide program
Oak Point Elementary35211.4All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Marion Elementary29813.792.2%Schoolwide program
Saltville Elementary18911.5All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Atkins Elementary1689.799.4%Schoolwide program
Rich Valley Elementary12611.491.5%Schoolwide program
Sugar Grove Elementary888.295.5%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 middle schools, 832 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Marion Middle40110.8100.0%Not Title I
Chilhowie Middle27312.869.6%Not Title I
Northwood Middle1588.499.4%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 high schools, 1,151 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Marion Senior High56310.699.8%Not Title I
Chilhowie High38414.364.1%Not Title I
Northwood High2048.899.0%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Smyth County Public Schools

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Smyth County Public Schools

  1. Virginia districts by spending per studentSmyth County Public Schools ranks 49 of 116 Virginia districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($15,196).#49 of 116
  2. Every school district in VirginiaSmyth County Public Schools is the number 63 by size of 132 Virginia districts, with 3,981 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#63 of 132
  3. Hopewell City Public SchoolsThe next larger Virginia district: 3,984 students in fall 2022, $16,800 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$16,800
  4. Mecklenburg County Public SchoolsThe next smaller Virginia district: 3,972 students in fall 2022, $15,069 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$15,069
  5. Compare Smyth County Public Schools with Hopewell City Public SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Marion Senior High, its largest high school563 students in 2024-25, 10.6 per teacher.563
  7. Teacher salary spending across VirginiaSmyth County Public Schools spent $53,136 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $61,899); spending, not a salary.$53,136
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Smyth County Public Schools

  1. How many schools and students are in Smyth County Public Schools?
    13 schools were open in 2024-25 (7 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high), enrolling 3,793 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Smyth County Public Schools spend per student?
    $15,196 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Virginia median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $14,972 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $15,580 per student, up 2.5% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Smyth County Public Schools' money come from?
    $67,438,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 62.3% state, 23.5% local and 14.2% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Smyth County Public Schools live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 776 of the 4,189 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 18.5%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Smyth County Public Schools spend on teacher salaries?
    $18,757,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,712 per student. Divided by the 353 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $53,136 per teacher, more than 9 in 100 Virginia districts (state median $61,899). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Virginia teacher salary at $59,965 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. What is the graduation rate in Smyth County Public Schools?
    90% of the 314 students in Smyth County Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 88.8% across Virginia. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  7. What is Smyth County Public Schools' NCES district ID?
    5103520. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .