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Amherst County High

Q: Is Amherst County High a good school?

Amherst County High ranks in the bottom 8.2% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Amherst County High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,240 students attended Amherst County High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Amherst County High?

Students at Amherst County High are 66% White, 18% African American, 9% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

Q: What schools feed into Amherst County High?

Amherst County High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Amelon Elementary Elementary : Amherst Elementary Elementary : Central Elementary Elementary : Elon Elementary Elementary : Madison Heights Elementary Elementary : Temperance Elementary Middle : Amherst Middle Middle : Monelison Middle

Public Grades 9-12

304^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 8% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Amherst County High is a large high school in Amherst, Virginia, serving about 1,240 students in grades 9 through 12 as part of Amherst County Public Schools. The school’s state ranking has declined sharply over the past five years, and it currently sits at 304th out of 331 Virginia high schools for 2025–2026, placing it in the bottom 8th percentile. This makes it the lowest-ranked high school among its nearby peers, including Jefferson Forest High, Brookville High, Parry McCluer High, Nelson County High, Heritage High, and E.C. Glass High.

One of the most striking findings is chronic absenteeism: 28% of Amherst students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, nearly double the state rate of 14.8%. This is especially notable because Parry McCluer High, a nearby school with even higher poverty (92% free/reduced lunch), has an absenteeism rate of just 8.5%. Amherst’s 9th-grade SOL test scores are also well below state averages, with Algebra I proficiency at 61.45% versus 80.21% statewide and Biology at 59.85% versus 86.07% statewide. In 9th-grade Algebra I, Amherst lags behind nearby schools like Parry McCluer High (88.10%), Nelson County High (83.08%), and Brookville High (76.52%).

Despite these challenges, Amherst has a genuine strength: a 92.1% graduation rate, close to the state average of 92.3%, and a dropout rate of 3.9%, below the state’s 5.0%. However, the school spends $10,243 per student, more than Brookville High ($6,659) and Jefferson Forest High ($8,054), yet achieves weaker academic results. The combination of high graduation rates, low test scores, and high absenteeism suggests students may be advancing through school without mastering core content. Subgroup effectiveness rankings are very low across nearly every student group, indicating schoolwide instructional challenges rather than struggles isolated to one population.

1,240

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,980

Per pupil spending ?

80.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

139 Lancer Lane
Amherst, VA 24521

(434) 946-2898

District: Amherst County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Amherst County High:

Elementary:	Amelon Elementary
	Amherst Elementary
	Central Elementary
	Elon Elementary
	More...
	Madison Heights Elementary
	Temperance Elementary
Middle:	Amherst Middle
	Monelison Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.5%

African American:

18.5%

Two or more races:

8.9%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Amherst County High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 12th percentile in 2016 → 8th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (66% vs 78% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 13% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg65%

Virginia avg78%

304^th of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 12% (2016) to bottom 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

93^rd of 131Amherst County Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	304 of 331	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.9	317 of 328	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	29.9	289 of 329	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.6	264 of 326	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.4	245 of 325	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.4	230 of 327	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.4	223 of 327	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.5	234 of 326	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	27.4	275 of 324	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.2	284 of 321	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	33.5	247 of 322	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	39.6	212 of 322	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	23.9	277 of 321	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.5	256 of 321	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	41.4	209 of 320	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	48.9	174 of 317	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.3	178 of 313	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	44.5	181 of 316	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.9	173 of 313	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	34.7	242 of 314	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	34.6	252 of 308	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	15.4	237 of 242	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.3	240 of 245	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	31.5	206 of 249	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.3	185 of 240	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	6.5	248 of 252	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	35.4	178 of 253	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.1	198 of 249	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	14.7	311 of 322	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.8	312 of 321	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	29.1	283 of 322	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.5	240 of 320	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	38.0	175 of 242	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	6.9	235 of 236	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	47.3	136 of 233	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.6	118 of 232	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.7	310 of 321	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.0	312 of 324	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	31.3	262 of 320	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	285 of 325	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.7	311 of 322	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	25.8	287 of 322	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.2	274 of 321	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	163 of 196	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.0	181 of 198	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	31.6	154 of 198	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.4	189 of 193	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	10.4	306 of 312	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.2	312 of 313	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	309 of 314	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	301 of 315	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2026)28th percentile+20 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)17th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)12th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)3rd percentile-5 vs school

Female (2026)3rd percentile-5 vs school

African American (2026)2nd percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)2nd percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2026)2nd percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Reading85%~ state avg

Writing71%-5 vs state

Algebra I67%-12 vs state

Geography64%-7 vs state

Biology62%-15 vs state

Geometry45%-32 vs state

VA and US History27%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Amherst County High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Writing (2026)			SOL Geometry (2026)				SOL Algebra I (2026)					SOL Algebra II (2026)				SOL Mathematics (2026)	SOL Chemistry (2026)			SOL Biology (2026)				SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)				SOL English Reading (2026)					SOL Geography (2026)				SOL VA and US History (2026)				SOL World History I (2026)				SOL World History II (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 12th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Algebra II 12th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Chemistry 10th Grade	SOL Chemistry 11th Grade	SOL Chemistry 12th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th Grade	SOL Geography 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 9th Grade	SOL VA and US History 10th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 9th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL World History II 11th Grade	SOL World History II 12th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Amherst County High	Public	9-12	139 Lancer Lane	Amherst	24521	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 946-2898	1,240	86	14.3	80.2%	824 (66.5%)	229 (18.5%)	60 (4.8%)	3 (0.2%)	12 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	110 (8.9%)	24.4	304^th of 331 public high schools	8.2%		15.9	317^th of 328 public high schools	3.4%	13	< 50%	71.0	< 50%	60.9	5.7	362.0			61.5	100.0	83.3	414.0	466.0		≥ 50%			411.0	≥ 50%		59.9	88.9		433.0		406.0	414.0	407.0	446.0			< 50%	84.9	372.0	64.7	60.0	415.0	459.0		< 50%	19.4	72.7		≥ 50%	≥ 50%	448.0	379.0	395.0			$10,980	$241	$10,738
E.C. Glass High	Public	9-12	2111 Memorial Ave	Lynchburg	24501	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 515-5370	1,220	90	13.5	94.8%	474 (38.9%)	535 (43.9%)	92 (7.5%)	19 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	98 (8.0%)	27.7	294^th of 331 public high schools	11.2%		43.2	235^th of 328 public high schools	28.4%	59				90.0	27.3	365.0			48.9	23.4	72.7	411.0	72.0	381.0	< 50%			400.0	403.0		78.5	39.4	397.0	91.7		< 50%	< 50%	44.4	446.0		< 50%	362.0	85.2	92.9	91.7	≥ 50%			< 50%	359.0	39.7	≥ 50%	50.0	420.0	≥ 50%	474.0	≥ 50%	48.7	≥ 50%		$11,532	$1,252	$10,280
Nelson County High	Public	9-12	6919 Thomas Nelson Hwy	Lovingston	22949	Nelson County	Nelson County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 263-8317	486	46	10.4	83.3%	338 (69.5%)	68 (14.0%)	55 (11.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.5%)	64	119^th of 331 public high schools	64.0%		67.2	107^th of 328 public high schools	67.4%	12				≥ 50%					83.1	88.2	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%				≥ 50%		75.9	80.7	431.0	≥ 50%							≥ 50%	372.0	93.1	≥ 50%						366.0	≥ 50%		73.8	427.0	≥ 50%			398.0	≥ 50%		$18,457	$664	$17,793
Heritage High	Public	9-12	3101 Wards Ferry Rd	Lynchburg	24502	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 515-5400	1,113	72	15.4	94.9%	283 (25.4%)	564 (50.7%)	132 (11.9%)	12 (1.1%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	118 (10.6%)	26.5	298^th of 331 public high schools	10.0%		33.1	272^nd of 328 public high schools	17.1%	26				438.0	23.1	54.6	406.0		66.2	63.3	389.0	88.9	76.1	≥ 50%	361.0	< 50%		≥ 50%	396.0	≥ 50%	77.4	57.4	64.9	84.6		≥ 50%	< 50%		≥ 50%			371.0	79.7	68.2	87.5				≥ 50%	347.0	40.3	82.6	33.8	58.3	≥ 50%	468.0		52.0	489.0	< 50%	$10,262	$970	$9,292
Brookville High	Public	9-12	100 Laxton Rd	Lynchburg	24502	Lynchburg city	Campbell County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 239-2636	1,017	84	12.0	71.8%	667 (65.6%)	163 (16.0%)	89 (8.8%)	17 (1.7%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	73 (7.2%)	47.2	213^th of 331 public high schools	35.6%		52	187^th of 328 public high schools	43.0%	26				92.6	410.0	≥ 50%			76.5	72.4	402.0	≥ 50%			≥ 50%						98.7	65.1	63.6	428.0			< 50%					≥ 50%	86.0	50.0						≥ 50%	374.0	< 50%	64.4	390.0	≥ 50%	473.0		402.0	≥ 50%		$7,463	$399	$7,064
Jefferson Forest High	Public	9-12	1 Cavalier Circle	Forest	24551	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 525-2674	1,282	74	17.2	22.2%	965 (75.3%)	95 (7.4%)	86 (6.7%)	51 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	84 (6.6%)	70.5	83^rd of 331 public high schools	74.9%		56.2	167^th of 328 public high schools	49.1%	84	≥ 50%	86.0	81.3	98.3	363.0	< 50%	< 50%		87.7	82.1	72.2	424.0	100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			≥ 50%	< 50%		96.4	66.2	76.5	438.0								≥ 50%	91.8	95.2	414.0					< 50%	378.0	≥ 50%	54.8	72.7	≥ 50%			< 50%			$8,171	$436	$7,734
Parry McCluer High	Public	8-12	100 Bradford Drive	Buena Vista	24416	Buena Vista city	Buena Vista City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 261-2127	315	25	12.3	92.1%	260 (82.5%)	18 (5.7%)	17 (5.4%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.4%)	57.1	161^st of 331 public high schools	51.4%		50.1	197^th of 328 public high schools	39.9%	36		69.5	389.0	86.7	< 50%	≥ 50%		491.0	88.1	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%					53.5				≥ 50%	82.7	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	57.6	< 50%				68.7		≥ 50%	86.7	< 50%						< 50%	< 50%		≥ 50%								$12,375	$541	$11,834

Frequently Asked Questions about Amherst County High

Is Amherst County High a good school?

Amherst County High ranks in the bottom 8.2% of Virginia high schools.

What district is Amherst County High in?

Amherst County Public Schools

How many students attend Amherst County High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,240 students attended Amherst County High.

What is the racial makeup of Amherst County High?

Students at Amherst County High are 66% White, 18% African American, 9% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Amherst County High?

Amherst County High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Amelon Elementary
Elementary : Amherst Elementary
Elementary : Central Elementary
Elementary : Elon Elementary
Elementary : Madison Heights Elementary
Elementary : Temperance Elementary
Middle : Amherst Middle
Middle : Monelison Middle

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.