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.
Marion, Virginia - 13 schools
An equity score of 72/100 ranks Smyth County Public Schools #18 of 131 districts in Virginia (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $13,836 per pupil, Smyth County Public Schools ranks #66 of 131 Virginia districts by per-pupil spending (Virginia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
3,981
Total Enrollment
13
Schools
$13,836
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Smyth County Public Schools operates 13 public schools serving 3,981 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Virginia. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 combined, 3 high, 3 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 Smyth County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,836 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 23.6% local, 58.5% state, and 17.9% 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 72/100, ranked #18 of 131 in Virginia against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 13 schools offering Advanced Placement (12 AP courses district-wide), a 288.7:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 21.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.1% White, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Marion Elementary, with a diversity index of 21.1/100.
Its largest campus is Chilhowie Elementary, enrolling 589 students (16% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Sugar Grove Elementary, at 88 students, a 7x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.
Smyth County Public Schools school enrollment varies 6.7× across entities
Smyth County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 88 students (lowest) to 589 students (highest), a spread of 501 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.
Smyth County Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 84.4% 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.
Smyth County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 289:1 — 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 Smyth County Public Schools is typically wider than the Smyth County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
Smyth County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 21.7% — 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 Smyth County Public Schools is typically wider than the Smyth County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
How many schools are in Smyth County Public Schools?
Smyth County Public Schools has 13 schools, including 7 combined, 3 high, 3 middle. Total enrollment is 3,981 students.
How much does Smyth County Public Schools spend per student?
Smyth County Public Schools spends $13,836 per student. The district has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #18 in Virginia.
What is the demographic composition of Smyth County Public Schools?
Smyth County Public Schools students are 93.1% White, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American, 0.2% Asian, averaged across 13 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Smyth County Public Schools?
Smyth County Public Schools has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #18 out of 131 districts in Virginia.