What share of students in Virginia are proficient in math?

In 2024, 29% of eighth graders in Virginia public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC) and 29% in reading, compared with 38% and 33% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Virginia, United States: official figures

89.1% of public high school students in Virginia graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 9th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

89.1%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

214

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

275

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$17,104

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,258,852

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

43.3%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Virginia rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Virginia was 89.1% in 2021-22, compared with 83% in 2011-12 and 87.5% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Virginia?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Virginia was 82.4% for economically disadvantaged students, 70.2% for students with disabilities and 69.2% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Virginia?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Virginia was 86.1% for Black, 77.9% for Hispanic and 92.8% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Virginia score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Virginia averaged 214 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 224 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Virginia score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Virginia averaged 256 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 262 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 34% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Virginia score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Virginia averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 247 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 40% scored at or above Proficient and 24% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Virginia score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Virginia averaged 275 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 287 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 37% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Virginia spend per student?

Public school systems in Virginia spent $17,104 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 23rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Virginia going up?

Current spending per pupil in Virginia rose from $12,641 in fiscal 2019 to $17,104 in fiscal 2024, up 35.3% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Virginia spend school money on?

Of the $17,104 spent per pupil in Virginia in fiscal 2024, $9,983 went on instruction and $6,447 on support services; salaries and wages came to $10,381 per pupil and employee benefits $4,206.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Virginia come from?

Public school systems in Virginia received $24.4 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 9.8% from the federal government, 41.3% from the state and 48.9% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Virginia spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Virginia was $24.2 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $21.6 billion was current spending and $2.3 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $9.1 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Virginia?

1,258,852 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Virginia in fall 2023, down 2.9% on fall 2019 (1,297,012) and down 1.2% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Virginia?

Public schools in Virginia had 92,651 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.6 pupils per teacher, 18th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Virginia in fall 2019: 14.9).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Virginia have a college degree?

43.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Virginia, about 2,649,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 7th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.5 percentage points on 2021 (41.8%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Virginia have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 19.2% of adults 25 and over in Virginia had a graduate or professional degree and 7.8% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Virginia did not finish high school?

91.7% of adults 25 and over in Virginia had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 8.3% without one; that share is 25th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Virginia compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Virginia ranks 9 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%
8	Texas	89.7%
9	Virginia	89.1%
10	Kansas	89.1%
11	Connecticut	88.9%
12	Mississippi	88.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Virginia ranks 12 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
9	Florida	83.2%
10	Massachusetts	83.2%
11	Alabama	82.6%
12	Virginia	82.4%
13	Iowa	82.3%
14	Kansas	82.2%
15	Connecticut	82.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Virginia ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
26	Iowa	215
27	Illinois	214
28	Georgia	214
29	Virginia	214
30	Minnesota	214
31	South Dakota	214
32	North Carolina	213

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Virginia ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
26	Hawaii	257
27	North Dakota	257
28	Vermont	257
29	Virginia	256
30	Nebraska	256
31	North Carolina	255
32	Michigan	255

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Virginia ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
18	Mississippi	239
19	Hawaii	239
20	Pennsylvania	238
21	Virginia	238
22	Washington	238
23	South Carolina	238
24	Kentucky	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Virginia ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
19	North Carolina	276
20	Tennessee	276
21	Vermont	276
22	Virginia	275
23	Iowa	275
24	Washington	274
25	Kansas	274

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Virginia ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
19	Wyoming	30.0%
20	Washington	29.5%
21	North Dakota	29.5%
22	Virginia	28.5%
23	Vermont	28.5%
24	Iowa	27.2%
25	Kansas	26.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Virginia ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
16	Missouri	42.1%
17	Vermont	41.8%
18	North Carolina	41.7%
19	Virginia	41.5%
20	Nevada	41.4%
21	Maryland	40.8%
22	New York	40.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Virginia ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
20	Oregon	$18,083
21	New Mexico	$17,664
22	Ohio	$17,257
23	Virginia	$17,104
24	North Dakota	$17,102
25	Minnesota	$17,098
26	Nebraska	$16,147

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Virginia ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
14	Massachusetts	+37.6%
15	Maine	+36.6%
16	Delaware	+36.1%
17	Virginia	+35.3%
18	South Carolina	+35.2%
19	Alabama	+35.2%
20	Illinois	+34.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Virginia ranks 15 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
12	New York	50.9%
13	Texas	50.8%
14	South Dakota	49.9%
15	Virginia	48.9%
16	Georgia	48.6%
17	Massachusetts	48.1%
18	New Jersey	47.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Virginia ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
31	Illinois	13.7
32	Wisconsin	13.7
33	Montana	13.7
34	Virginia	13.6
35	West Virginia	13.5
36	Pennsylvania	13.3
37	Mississippi	13.0

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Virginia ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
26	Pennsylvania	-2.3%
27	Arkansas	-2.4%
28	Minnesota	-2.6%
29	Virginia	-2.9%
30	Kansas	-2.9%
31	Arizona	-3.0%
32	Nevada	-3.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Virginia ranks 7 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
4	Vermont	45.1%
5	Maryland	44.7%
6	New Jersey	44.5%
7	Virginia	43.3%
8	Connecticut	42.6%
9	New Hampshire	41.5%
10	New York	41.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Virginia ranks 25 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
22	South Carolina	9.0%
23	Massachusetts	8.6%
24	Maryland	8.6%
25	Virginia	8.3%
26	Connecticut	8.2%
27	Delaware	8.2%
28	Missouri	8.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Virginia: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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