Summary
Essex High is a public high school located in Tappahannock, Virginia, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 410. The school is part of the Essex County Public Schools district, which is ranked 100 out of 129 districts in Virginia and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Essex High has had relatively strong graduation rates, ranging from 91.9% to 98.1% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average. The school's dropout rates have also been low, ranging from 0.9% to 5.3%, better than the state average. However, Essex High has struggled with high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 10.6% to 22.2%, which is an area of concern. The school has performed well on several SOL (Standards of Learning) tests, particularly in Algebra I, Algebra II, and Biology, where they have outperformed the state and district averages. Compared to nearby high schools like King William High, Central High, Westmoreland High, and Rappahannock High, Essex High generally performs on par or slightly better in terms of graduation rates, dropout rates, and some test scores.
One significant challenge for Essex High is its high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 62.8% to 100.78%, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the school's spending per student has ranged from $6,254 to $9,507, which is lower than the state average. Over the past several years, Essex High's statewide ranking has declined, from a high of 153 out of 329 Virginia high schools in 2023-2024 to a low of 201 out of 328 in 2024-2025, suggesting the school may be struggling to keep up with the performance of other high schools in the state.
Thank you for your feedback!