Very Good
#553 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 30% in state
Amherst Elementary
Elementary School · Amherst County Public Schools · Amherst, VA
An Amherst County Public Schools elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
156 Davis St, Amherst, VA 24521
- Math 71% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 76% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Amherst Elementary score 73% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2019, to 73% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
79.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Amherst Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 33Car-Dependent
- Bike 13Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,088/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Amherst), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,077
Median home value
$233,600
Median rent
$830/mo
College educated
26.9%
Homeownership
78%
Poverty rate
10.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24521; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 323 | Compare → |
| Amelon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | Not available | 415 | Compare → |
| Elon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | PK–5 | Not available | 318 | Compare → |
| Madison Heights ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | PK–5 | Not available | 429 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Amherst County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #1 of 9
- District spending per student
- $14,301NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Amherst Elementary is listed in Amherst County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Amherst Elementary
Amherst Elementary is a public elementary school in Amherst, VA, part of Amherst County Public Schools, serving approximately 267 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #553 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Amherst Elementary
What grades does Amherst Elementary serve?
Amherst Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Amherst Elementary?
Amherst Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 267 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Amherst Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Amherst Elementary is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Amherst Elementary rank in VA?
Amherst Elementary ranks #553 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Amherst Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Amherst Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Amherst Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Amherst Elementary has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Amherst Elementary a charter school?
No, Amherst Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Amherst Elementary a Title I school?
No, Amherst Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Amherst Elementary?
79.4% of students at Amherst Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 267
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Amherst County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.2%
- Phone
- (434) 946-9704
- Area population (ZIP 24521)
- 10,101
- Area average commute
- 26.9 min
- Area median age
- 44.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 24521; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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