While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $524 - $1,112 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Virginia has the 12th least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 132 districts in Virginia based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil. Read on for the district ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Virginia
| Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roanoke Co Pblc Schs | 0.03 | $10,475 | $68,948 |
| 2 | Henrico Co Pblc Schs | 0.53 | $10,268 | $70,307 |
| 3 | Rockingham Co Pblc Schs | 0.68 | $11,829 | $61,864 |
| 4 | Louisa Co Pblc Schs | 0.83 | $12,194 | $60,975 |
| 5 | Madison Co Pblc Schs | 1.79 | $12,498 | $57,895 |
| 6 | Richmond City Pblc Schs | 2.35 | $14,585 | $47,250 |
| 7 | Middlesex Co Pblc Schs | 2.36 | $13,097 | $57,438 |
| 8 | Williamsburg-James City Pblc Schs | 2.84 | $12,457 | $57,463 |
| 9 | King William Co Pblc Schs | 2.89 | $11,760 | $64,360 |
| 10 | Colonial Heights City Pblc Schs | 3.61 | $12,953 | $54,550 |
| 11 | Westmoreland Co Pblc Schs | 3.83 | $13,388 | $56,890 |
| 12 | Essex Co Pblc Schs | 3.92 | $13,440 | $51,954 |
| 13 | Prince George Co Pblc Schs | 5.02 | $10,491 | $71,912 |
| 14 | Caroline Co Pblc Schs | 5.15 | $10,627 | $65,103 |
| 15 | Warren Co Pblc Schs | 5.39 | $11,103 | $69,116 |
| 16 | Bedford Co Pblc Schs | 5.60 | $10,756 | $64,199 |
| 17 | Lancaster Co Pblc Schs | 5.76 | $14,268 | $53,711 |
| 18 | Staunton City Pblc Schs | 6.14 | $13,036 | $52,611 |
| 19 | Southampton Co Pblc Schs | 6.35 | $11,241 | $61,348 |
| 20 | Augusta Co Pblc Schs | 6.51 | $10,946 | $62,711 |
| 21 | Greene Co Pblc Schs | 6.63 | $11,602 | $67,398 |
| 22 | Orange Co Pblc Schs | 7.17 | $10,828 | $71,548 |
| 23 | Dinwiddie Co Pblc Schs | 8.70 | $11,157 | $60,346 |
| 24 | Shenandoah Co Pblc Schs | 9.97 | $11,628 | $57,252 |
| 25 | Gloucester Co Pblc Schs | 10.10 | $11,391 | $70,537 |
| 26 | Franklin Co Pblc Schs | 10.15 | $11,808 | $56,254 |
| 27 | Winchester City Pblc Schs | 10.29 | $13,787 | $58,818 |
| 28 | Craig Co Pblc Schs | 11.63 | $11,738 | $55,708 |
| 29 | Montgomery Co Pblc Schs | 11.74 | $11,265 | $57,977 |
| 30 | Isle Of Wight Co Pblc Schs | 11.78 | $10,897 | $73,991 |
| 31 | Botetourt Co Pblc Schs | 11.94 | $11,500 | $71,110 |
| 32 | Hampton City Pblc Schs | 12.55 | $11,508 | $56,287 |
| 33 | King And Queen Co Pblc Schs | 13.55 | $13,140 | $63,982 |
| 34 | Suffolk City Pblc Schs | 14.19 | $11,010 | $74,884 |
| 35 | Mathews Co Pblc Schs | 14.22 | $13,170 | $64,237 |
| 36 | Rockbridge Co Pblc Schs | 14.28 | $11,638 | $54,600 |
| 37 | Brunswick Co Pblc Schs | 14.48 | $13,673 | $44,434 |
| 38 | Norfolk City Pblc Schs | 14.73 | $12,193 | $51,590 |
| 39 | Roanoke City Pblc Schs | 14.91 | $13,661 | $44,230 |
| 40 | Salem City Pblc Schs | 15.58 | $10,960 | $57,165 |
| 41 | Newport News City Pblc Schs | 16.02 | $11,707 | $53,215 |
| 42 | Greensville Co Pblc Schs | 16.25 | $12,269 | $50,300 |
| 43 | Portsmouth City Pblc Schs | 16.26 | $11,888 | $52,175 |
| 44 | Fredericksburg City Pblc Schs | 16.38 | $13,149 | $65,641 |
| 45 | Pulaski Co Pblc Schs | 16.53 | $11,512 | $53,866 |
| 46 | Culpeper Co Pblc Schs | 16.64 | $10,692 | $77,935 |
| 47 | Harrisonburg City Pblc Schs | 16.75 | $12,941 | $46,679 |
| 48 | Lynchburg City Pblc Schs | 17.00 | $12,965 | $46,409 |
| 49 | Fluvanna Co Pblc Schs | 17.63 | $11,028 | $76,873 |
| 50 | Appomattox Co Pblc Schs | 18.13 | $10,339 | $58,696 |
| 51 | Northumberland Co Pblc Schs | 18.34 | $13,998 | $62,632 |
| 52 | Chesterfield Co Pblc Schs | 19.87 | $10,142 | $82,599 |
| 53 | Northampton Co Pblc Schs | 20.09 | $12,422 | $47,227 |
| 54 | Giles Co Pblc Schs | 20.42 | $10,905 | $54,520 |
| 55 | Alleghany Co Pblc Schs | 20.58 | $12,271 | $47,673 |
| 56 | Amherst Co Pblc Schs | 20.98 | $11,167 | $52,888 |
| 57 | Franklin City Pblc Schs | 21.02 | $13,687 | $40,417 |
| 58 | Amelia Co Pblc Schs | 21.98 | $10,020 | $57,946 |
| 59 | Floyd Co Pblc Schs | 22.46 | $11,262 | $51,521 |
| 60 | West Point Pblc Schs | 23.91 | $12,731 | $72,250 |
| 61 | Richmond Co Pblc Schs | 23.93 | $11,489 | $49,517 |
| 62 | Sussex Co Pblc Schs | 24.13 | $17,367 | $49,487 |
| 63 | Va Beach City Pblc Schs | 24.15 | $11,878 | $76,610 |
| 64 | Cumberland Co Pblc Schs | 24.15 | $11,876 | $47,469 |
| 65 | Charlotte Co Pblc Schs | 24.59 | $13,219 | $40,573 |
| 66 | Page Co Pblc Schs | 24.59 | $10,947 | $51,792 |
| 67 | Prince Edward Co Pblc Schs | 24.78 | $11,853 | $47,202 |
| 68 | Nelson Co Pblc Schs | 24.80 | $14,447 | $64,313 |
| 69 | Charles City Co Pblc Schs | 25.83 | $16,014 | $57,198 |
| 70 | Chesapeake City Pblc Schs | 26.78 | $11,788 | $78,640 |
| 71 | Waynesboro City Pblc Schs | 27.03 | $12,022 | $45,011 |
| 72 | New Kent Co Pblc Schs | 27.37 | $9,984 | $87,904 |
| 73 | Buckingham Co Pblc Schs | 28.42 | $11,039 | $49,025 |
| 74 | Danville City Pblc Schs | 29.04 | $13,358 | $37,203 |
| 75 | Bland Co Pblc Schs | 29.82 | $10,969 | $48,531 |
| 76 | Washington Co Pblc Schs | 29.92 | $10,963 | $48,495 |
| 77 | Clarke Co Pblc Schs | 30.15 | $11,919 | $80,026 |
| 78 | Wythe Co Pblc Schs | 30.26 | $10,746 | $49,364 |
| 79 | Campbell Co Pblc Schs | 31.25 | $10,564 | $49,664 |
| 80 | Frederick Co Pblc Schs | 32.73 | $12,644 | $78,002 |
| 81 | Martinsville City Pblc Schs | 32.93 | $13,456 | $34,371 |
| 82 | Accomack Co Pblc Schs | 33.41 | $11,028 | $46,073 |
| 83 | Petersburg City Pblc Schs | 33.42 | $12,524 | $38,679 |
| 84 | Carroll Co Pblc Schs | 33.82 | $11,228 | $44,835 |
| 85 | Hanover Co Pblc Schs | 34.12 | $10,508 | $89,390 |
| 86 | Pittsylvania Co Pblc Schs | 34.56 | $10,559 | $47,690 |
| 87 | Bath Co Pblc Schs | 35.06 | $18,652 | $49,738 |
| 88 | Lunenburg Co Pblc Schs | 35.81 | $11,093 | $44,303 |
| 89 | Manassas Park City Pblc Schs | 36.06 | $11,017 | $88,046 |
| 90 | Colonial Beach Pblc Schs | 36.09 | $11,289 | $43,164 |
| 91 | Nottoway Co Pblc Schs | 36.12 | $10,805 | $45,535 |
| 92 | Grayson Co Pblc Schs | 36.60 | $12,567 | $36,544 |
| 93 | Powhatan Co Pblc Schs | 37.54 | $10,987 | $89,090 |
| 94 | Halifax Co Pblc Schs | 37.60 | $11,205 | $42,669 |
| 95 | Mecklenburg Co Pblc Schs | 38.09 | $11,036 | $43,207 |
| 96 | Spotsylvania Co Pblc Schs | 38.63 | $11,214 | $88,628 |
| 97 | Hopewell City Pblc Schs | 38.69 | $11,808 | $39,030 |
| 98 | Charlottesville Cty Pblc Schs | 40.01 | $17,286 | $59,471 |
| 99 | Lexington City Pblc Schs | 40.39 | $10,872 | $42,632 |
| 100 | York Co Pblc Schs | 40.84 | $10,787 | $92,069 |
| 101 | Bristol City Pblc Schs | 42.60 | $11,640 | $37,500 |
| 102 | King Geo Co Pblc Schs | 43.10 | $10,496 | $94,871 |
| 103 | Albemarle Co Pblc Schs | 43.16 | $13,539 | $79,880 |
| 104 | Smyth Co Pblc Schs | 43.43 | $10,844 | $40,932 |
| 105 | Highland Co Pblc Schs | 43.86 | $19,961 | $48,587 |
| 106 | Manassas City Pblc Schs | 44.35 | $13,357 | $81,493 |
| 107 | Patrick Co Pblc Schs | 44.52 | $10,277 | $43,073 |
| 108 | Russell Co Pblc Schs | 46.38 | $10,721 | $39,758 |
| 109 | Scott Co Pblc Schs | 46.79 | $10,659 | $39,820 |
| 110 | Covington City Pblc Schs | 47.66 | $10,383 | $40,655 |
| 111 | Lee Co Pblc Schs | 49.08 | $11,782 | $32,888 |
| 112 | Buchanan Co Pblc Schs | 49.95 | $11,865 | $31,956 |
| 113 | Rappahannock Co Pblc Schs | 50.58 | $15,579 | $74,284 |
| 114 | Galax City Pblc Schs | 51.96 | $11,291 | $33,575 |
| 115 | Buena Vista City Pblc Schs | 52.29 | $11,478 | $32,455 |
| 116 | Radford City Pblc Schs | 52.41 | $10,685 | $36,297 |
| 117 | Poquoson City Pblc Schs | 52.52 | $11,192 | $97,118 |
| 118 | Henry Co Pblc Schs | 53.19 | $10,255 | $37,952 |
| 119 | Dickenson Co Pblc Schs | 53.30 | $11,865 | $29,932 |
| 120 | Tazewell Co Pblc Schs | 53.53 | $9,374 | $42,099 |
| 121 | Goochland Co Pblc Schs | 55.51 | $12,190 | $93,994 |
| 122 | Wise Co Pblc Schs | 58.50 | $9,416 | $38,888 |
| 123 | Surry Co Pblc Schs | 65.02 | $20,648 | $57,962 |
| 124 | Stafford Co Pblc Schs | 68.71 | $10,337 | $111,108 |
| 125 | Prince William Co Pblc Schs | 73.08 | $11,580 | $107,610 |
| 126 | Fauquier Co Pblc Schs | 73.87 | $13,059 | $100,783 |
| 127 | Norton City Pblc Schs | 76.96 | $9,163 | $29,000 |
| 128 | Alexandria City Pblc Schs | 115.47 | $18,111 | $100,939 |
| 129 | Fairfax Co Pblc Schs | 135.25 | $15,690 | $124,831 |
| 130 | Arlington Co Pblc Schs | 156.92 | $19,301 | $120,071 |
| 131 | Loudoun Co Pblc Schs | 158.44 | $14,986 | $142,299 |
| 132 | Falls Church City Pblc Schs | 168.76 | $19,222 | $127,610 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,927 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.