Essex County Public Schools

The Essex County Public Schools district in Virginia serves students from elementary through high school, with three schools highlighted in the data: Essex High, Tappahannock Elementary, and James H. Cary Intermediate. While Essex High stands out with strong academic performance, the district's elementary and middle schools struggle, and high poverty levels across all schools suggest a need for targeted support.

Essex High is the district's academic standout, with 100% proficiency in Algebra I and high scores in other subjects. However, its statewide ranking has fluctuated in recent years, indicating potential inconsistencies. In contrast, Tappahannock Elementary and James H. Cary Intermediate perform below the state average on many assessments, particularly in Mathematics and English Reading, suggesting a need for improvement in the district's elementary and middle school education.

Across the district, high percentages of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 100.78% at Essex High to 114.67% at Tappahannock Elementary, indicate a predominantly low-income student population. This high-need environment may require additional resources and support to address the academic and social-emotional needs of students. Additionally, the significant difference in spending per student between Tappahannock Elementary ($10,591) and James H. Cary Intermediate ($5,824) suggests potential funding disparities within the Essex County Public Schools district.