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Central Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1014^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,110 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 9% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary is a public elementary school in Amherst, Virginia, serving 323 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Amherst County Public Schools district, which is ranked 96 out of 129 school districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Elementary faces significant challenges in terms of academic performance and student engagement. The school has seen a steady increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 15.7% in 2023-2024 to 26.7% in 2023-2024, which is significantly higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools like Madison Heights Elementary (15.7%) and Elon Elementary (15.7%). Additionally, Central Elementary's test scores are consistently lower than the Amherst County Public Schools district and the state of Virginia across various subjects and grade levels, with the school ranking in the bottom 10% of Virginia elementary schools for White students and Low Socioeconomic Status students in math and reading.

The school's declining spending per student, from $9,010 in 2018-2019 to $8,399 in 2020-2021, and relatively high student-teacher ratio (11.9 in 2023-2024) may be impacting its ability to provide the necessary resources and support for its students. While Central Elementary is part of the same school district as other nearby schools, its performance lags significantly behind these institutions, with Elon Elementary achieving a 3rd grade math proficiency rate of 89.13% in 2024-2025, compared to Central Elementary's 52.27%. These challenges suggest that the school may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to address these issues and improve outcomes for its students.

268

Students ?

10.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,986

Per pupil spending ?

82.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

575 Union Hill Rd
Amherst, VA 24521

(434) 946-9700

District: Amherst County Public Schools

Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Amherst Middle
High:	Amherst County High

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.3%

African American:

19.0%

Two or more races:

14.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 10th percentile in 2015 → 9th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (48% vs 71% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!VA Studies scores 37 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg62%

Virginia avg71%

1,014^th of 1,110

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Amherst County Public Schools

96^th of 129Amherst 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
2025	11.4	1014 of 1110	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.7	880 of 1114	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.2	798 of 1114	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.7	931 of 1109	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.3	817 of 1103	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.6	767 of 1105	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.0	863 of 1097	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.7	928 of 1099	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	28.8	894 of 1096	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	18.2	994 of 1100	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	38.0	769 of 1110	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	32.8	846 of 1120	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.6	919 of 1117	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.1	952 of 1117	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	23.3	1002 of 1113	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	25.4	959 of 1082	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	16.9	1029 of 1081	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	16.3	1019 of 1083	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	6.8	1056 of 1071	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	14.6	1004 of 1062	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	27.4	859 of 1096	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.5	637 of 1098	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.4	762 of 1100	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	15.0	969 of 1046	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.7	788 of 1036	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	8.4	1034 of 1093	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	42.0	708 of 1101	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.2	661 of 1093	39.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	2.7	963 of 973	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.9	888 of 979	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	27.0	814 of 984	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)22nd percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)7th percentile~ school

Male (2025)5th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)1st percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics54%-19 vs state

English Reading49%-21 vs state

Science46%-23 vs state

VA Studies32%-37 vs state

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Schools Near Central Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Mathematics (2025)			SOL Science (2025)	SOL English Reading (2025)			SOL VA Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	575 Union Hill Rd	Amherst	24521	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 946-9700	268	25	10.7	82.8%	151 (56.3%)	51 (19.0%)	16 (6.0%)	5 (1.9%)	7 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (14.2%)	11.4	1014^th of 1110 public elementary schools	8.6%		26.7	880^th of 1114 public elementary schools	21.0%	134	52.3	65.8	42.9	45.7	44.2	60.5	42.9	31.6	$11,986	$1,316	$10,670
Amherst Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	156 Davis St	Amherst	24521	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 946-9704	307	22	13.9	83.4%	193 (62.9%)	46 (15.0%)	29 (9.4%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (11.4%)	53.7	557^th of 1110 public elementary schools	49.8%		55.8	540^th of 1114 public elementary schools	51.5%	17	77.8	71.4	65.2	58.7	75.6	85.7	65.2	80.5	$11,022	$1,610	$9,413
Amelon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	132 Amer Court	Madison Heights	24572	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 528-6498	415	32	12.9	83.6%	243 (58.6%)	106 (25.5%)	21 (5.1%)	2 (0.5%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (9.2%)	16	969^th of 1110 public elementary schools	12.7%		14.8	983^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	11.8%	14	58.2	52.1	50.8	49.2	46.3	60.3	64.6	48.0	$10,619	$1,067	$9,552
Temperance Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1981 Lowesville Rd	Amherst	24521	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 946-2811	93	7	13.2	82.8%	81 (87.1%)	5 (5.4%)	4 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.2%)	73.1	308^th of 1110 public elementary schools	72.3%		72.5	318^th of 1114 public elementary schools	71.5%	10	66.7	86.7	85.7	85.7	72.2	100.0	78.6	86.7	$12,287	$595	$11,692
Elon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	147 Younger Dr	Madison Heights	24572	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 528-6496	288	22	13.0	83.0%	215 (74.7%)	35 (12.2%)	8 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (8.0%)	57	516^th of 1110 public elementary schools	53.5%		51.9	587^th of 1114 public elementary schools	47.3%	71	89.1	71.7	69.6	69.6	73.3	75.0	71.7	70.0	$10,060	$878	$9,182
Madison Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	287 Learning Lane	Madison Heights	24572	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 846-2151	449	32	14.0	84.0%	218 (48.6%)	127 (28.3%)	47 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (12.5%)	24.1	886^th of 1110 public elementary schools	20.2%		27.7	868^th of 1114 public elementary schools	22.1%	18	57.9	52.6	66.1	67.9	56.1	56.1	66.1	27.3	$9,665	$1,688	$7,978
Tye River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5198 Thomas Nelson Hwy	Arrington	22922	Nelson County	Nelson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 263-8960	360	29	12.6	85.3%	245 (68.1%)	58 (16.1%)	43 (11.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.3%)	54.1	554^th of 1110 public elementary schools	50.1%		48.3	638^th of 1114 public elementary schools	42.7%	84	71.7	75.5	80.7	66.1	61.5	79.6	67.7	77.6	$13,996	$1,844	$12,152
Paul Munro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4641 Locksview Rd	Lynchburg	24503	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 515-5260	356	26	13.6	97.2%	173 (48.6%)	113 (31.7%)	34 (9.6%)	7 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.9%)	73.7	300^th of 1110 public elementary schools	73.0%		81.8	175^th of 1114 public elementary schools	84.3%	125	79.2	88.1	77.8	75.6	72.9	90.5	82.6	83.3	$8,460	$1,798	$6,661
Dearington Elementary/Innovation	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	210 Smyth St	Lynchburg	24501	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(434) 515-5220	180	19	9.4	98.3%	29 (16.1%)	117 (65.0%)	11 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (11.7%)	24.3	884^th of 1110 public elementary schools	20.4%		42.1	703^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	36.9%	181	39.4	62.5	65.0	75.0	45.5	56.3	65.0	59.4	$15,178	$2,100	$13,078
Robert S. Payne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1201 Floyd St	Lynchburg	24501	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 515-5270	435	33	13.1	97.2%	79 (18.2%)	280 (64.4%)	34 (7.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.0%)	4.8	1074^th of 1110 public elementary schools	3.2%		12.1	1004^th of 1114 public elementary schools	9.9%	70	45.1	18.8	22.0	43.6	35.2	50.0	46.3	46.2	$9,579	$2,364	$7,215

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

What district is Central Elementary in?

Amherst County Public Schools

How many students attend Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 268 students attended Central Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary?

Students at Central Elementary are 56% White, 19% African American, 14% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 3% American Indian, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Amherst Middle
High : Amherst County High

Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks in the bottom 8.6% of Virginia elementary schools.

Rate Central Elementary!

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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.