Essex County Public Schools

Essex County Public Schools is a small, rural Virginia district serving about 1,092 students in three schools: Tappahannock Elementary (grades PK–4), James H. Cary Intermediate (grades 5–8), and Essex High (grades 9–12). The district ranks 113th out of 131 Virginia districts, placing it in the 14th percentile with a 1-star rating. Nearly every student in the district comes from a low-income household, with free or reduced-price lunch eligibility at or above 100% at all three schools.

Essex High is the district’s clear standout. It is the only school rated 2 stars, ranking in the 40th percentile of Virginia high schools. It boasts a 94.7% graduation rate, a low 2.0% dropout rate, and above-state proficiency in Algebra I, Biology, and 11th-grade reading. Its weaknesses are social studies, especially geography, where proficiency lags the state by as many as 21 points. In contrast, James H. Cary Intermediate is struggling despite spending the most per student ($8,708) and having the smallest class sizes. Its ranking has fallen to the 19th percentile, and just 18.97% of 6th graders were proficient in math in 2025–2026 — a catastrophic 44-point gap from the state average. However, Cary posts 100% proficiency for 8th graders taking Algebra I and Geometry, showing advanced students can thrive. Tappahannock Elementary is the district’s only elementary school and its ranking has plummeted from the 28th to the 12th percentile. Third-grade math dropped by nearly 24 points in one year, falling below the state average, while 4th-grade math (52.46%) and Virginia Studies (44.26%) remain far behind.

All three schools are declining in rank, and the district is falling further behind Virginia. The most urgent concern is middle school math, especially 6th grade. Social studies is a district-wide weakness at every level. Still, there are bright spots: Essex High’s graduation rate exceeds the state average, James H. Cary Intermediate’s advanced math students score perfectly, and Tappahannock Elementary keeps absenteeism below the state average. For parents, the high school is delivering solid results, while the elementary and intermediate schools need immediate help in math and social studies to reverse the trend.