- Enrollment
- 4,411
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lorton, VA
South County High
Federal NCES profile for South County High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510126002436
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South County High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Virginia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Lorton · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 19.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South County High has class sizes larger than 74% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South County High ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Lorton, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126002436 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-73 students YoY
South County High held near 2,200 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-73 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 137.8 → 139.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-73 students YoY 510126002436 · Lorton, VA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,106 enr · 15.4:1 · 19.3% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students)
South County High held near 2,200 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-73 headcount). Teacher FTE added 137.8 → 139.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
South County High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lake Braddock
Lake Braddock Secondary
4,411 students
- Robinson Secon
Robinson Secondary
3,710 students
- Hayfield Secon
Hayfield Secondary
3,256 students
- Chantilly High
Chantilly High
2,937 students
- West Springfie
West Springfield High
2,799 students
- This school
South County High
2,106 students
What this shows South County High reports 2,106 students on the CCD universe file.
How South County High compares
South County High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 11% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.3% | ▼ 66% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,106 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,106
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 74% in Virginia - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$18,975
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors10.0 FTE
Per 211 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
85
in-school suspensions + 57 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 36.7%
African American 22.6%
Asian 18.4%
Hispanic or Latino 15.2%
Two or More 6.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 36.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.3, South County High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 24
District finance for Fairfax County Public Schools reports $18,975 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South County High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South County High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,710
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 3,256
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 2,937
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,799
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~2,106 students)
Frequently asked questions about South County High
How many students attend South County High?
South County High has 2,106 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lorton, VA. CCD year-over-year: 2,273 (2022-23) → 2,200 (2023-24), nearly flat (-73).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South County High?
The student-teacher ratio at South County High is 15.4:1, which is 11% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South County High?
19.3% of students at South County High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South County High?
The largest demographic group at South County High is White at 36.7% of enrollment, in Lorton, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South County High?
South County High has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South County High rank among public schools in Lorton?
By Resource Investment Index, South County High ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Lorton, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Lorton on the city page.
What other schools are in Fairfax County Public Schools?
Besides South County High, Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students), Robinson Secondary (3,710 students), and Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students). See the Fairfax County Public Schools district page for the complete list.