Lancaster County Public Schools

Lancaster County Public Schools is a small, high-poverty Virginia district serving about 944 students in just two schools: Lancaster Elementary (grades K–7) and Lancaster High (grades 8–12), with no separate middle school. These two schools are on very different paths, and parents comparing them will see a high school that is improving steadily and an elementary school that is sliding in its state rankings.

Lancaster High is the district’s standout, climbing from the 18th to the 33rd percentile in state rankings over three years. Its average SOL proficiency gap versus the state has narrowed, and it shines in Biology (87.6% proficient vs. 68.9% statewide) and 8th grade Algebra I (100% proficient for two straight years). Even with a 100% free/reduced lunch rate and 24% chronic absenteeism, the high school’s dropout rate is lower than the state average. By contrast, Lancaster Elementary has dropped from the 27th to the 17th percentile, and its gap versus the state has widened to -13.6 points. The elementary school’s biggest weaknesses are in 5th grade math (42.1% vs. 72.4% state), reading (48.0% vs. 72.4%), and science (39.5% vs. 68.8%). Its bright spots are in 6th grade math and reading, both at or above state averages.

Social studies is a district-wide trouble area, from VA Studies and Civics at the elementary level to World History I and especially 11th grade VA & US History (25% proficient vs. 34.5% statewide). Chronic absenteeism is higher at the high school (24%) than at the elementary school (16.6%), which is a concern even though the high school continues to improve. Per-pupil spending is moderate at roughly $11,000, and the high school enjoys a lower student-teacher ratio (10.9) than the elementary school (13.7). Taken together, parents should see a district with high levels of poverty and a high school that is making real gains, while the elementary school needs urgent attention in upper-elementary reading, math, and science before students transition to high school.