Very Good
#560 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 30% in state
Essex High
High School · Essex County Public Schools · Tappahannock, VA
An Essex County Public Schools high school where students score 21 points above what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 1006, Tappahannock, VA 22560
- Math 83% vs VA 75% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs VA 76% (2025)
- 92.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Essex High score 84% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2019, reaching 85% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 79% (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 27 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.8%
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 Essex High 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 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,705/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Tappahannock), 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
$65,357
Median home value
$247,100
Median rent
$969/mo
College educated
18.2%
Homeownership
63%
Poverty rate
15%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 22560; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Margaret's SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.0 | 8–12 | 1.0 mi | 62 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Essex County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #1 of 3
- District spending per student
- $17,613NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Essex High is listed in Essex County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Essex High
Essex High is a public high school in Tappahannock, VA, part of Essex County Public Schools, serving approximately 410 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #560 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Essex High
What grades does Essex High serve?
Essex High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Essex High?
Essex High has an enrollment of approximately 410 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Essex High?
The student-teacher ratio at Essex High is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Essex High rank in VA?
Essex High ranks #560 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Essex High's MySchoolScout rating?
Essex High 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 Essex High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Essex High has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Essex High a charter school?
No, Essex High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Essex High a Title I school?
No, Essex High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Essex High?
98.8% of students at Essex High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 410
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Essex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 5.6%
- Phone
- (804) 443-4301
- 4-Year Graduation
- 92.0%
- Area population (ZIP 22560)
- 6,523
- Area average commute
- 34.9 min
- Area median age
- 43.5
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 22560; 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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