Nelson County High School (Ranked Top 10% for 2026)

6919 Thomas Nelson Hwy
Lovingston, VA 22949

( shown in map)

10/

Top 10%

Nelson County High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located within the Nelson County Public Schools School District. It has an enrollment of 540 students in grades 9–12. Instruction is provided by 51 professional staff members.

Serving 485 students in grades 9-12, Nelson County High School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Virginia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).

The percentage of students achieving is ≥90% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 80-84% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 69%).

The student-teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the Virginia state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Virginia state average of 56% (majority Black).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 485 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
Minority Enrollment: 28%
: 85-89% (Btm 50% in VA)
: Top 10%
: ≥90% (Top 10%)
: 80-84% (Top 20%)
: 50-54% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Nelson County High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Virginia for:

Category

Attribute

Overall Rank

Highest overall rank (Top 10%)

Math Proficiency

Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)

Reading/Language Arts Proficiency

Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)

Student Attention

Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 10%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

Nelson County High School's student population of 485 students has declined by 14% over five school years.

The teacher population of 45 teachers has declined by 6% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12
(Supplemental Virtual)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Nelson County High School
9	131
10	134
11	111
12	109

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Total Students

485 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School
2023	517
2022	545
2021	570
2020	632
2019	632
2018	625
2017	625
2016	643
2015	609
2014	611
2013	597
2012	597
2011	580
2010	581
2009	568
2008	596
2007	645
2006	637
2005	654
2004	637
2003	636
2002	665
2001	722
2000	705
1999	694
1998	674
1997	693
1996	684
1995	688
1994	645
1993	618
1992	584
1991	581
1990	645
1989	611
1988	644
1987	674

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

45 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School
2023	46
2022	48
2021	48
2020	49
2019	49
2018	48
2017	48
2016	47
2015	44
2014	47
2013	44
2012	42
2011	38
2010	40
2009	43
2008	45
2007	50
2006	52
2005	52
2004	52
2003	59
2002	56
2001	56
1999	60
1994	63
1993	48
1992	47
1991	46
1990	46
1989	46
1988	45

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Colors

Green, Gold

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

Nelson County High School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,773 schools in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Nelson County High School is 0.46, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.72. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (VA)

#158 out of 1773 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School
2023	#158
2022	#530
2021	#530
2019	#432
2018	#385
2017	#410
2016	#398
2015	#654
2014	#253
2013	#149
2012	#408

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≥90%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	90%	68%	71%
2021	57%	54%	42%
2019	85%	82%	87%
2017	82%	72%	74%
2016	83%	80%	80%
2015	79%	79%	79%
2014	80%	74%	77%
2013	82%	71%	76%
2012	79%	68%	71%
2011	95%	86%	91%
2010	96%	87%	90%

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(20-21)

80-84%

69%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2021)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2021	82%	69%	62%
2019	92%	78%	76%
2018	87%	80%
2017	87%	80%	74%
2016	92%	80%	78%
2015	87%	79%	75%
2014	92%	74%	73%
2013	92%	74%	75%
2012	92%	89%	88%
2011	95%	88%	88%
2010	95%	89%	90%

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(20-21)

50-54%

59%

Student-Teacher Ratio

11:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	11:1	14:1	12:1
2022	11:1	14:1	11:1
2021	12:1	14:1	12:1
2020	13:1	15:1	13:1
2019	13:1	15:1	13:1
2018	13:1	15:1	13:1
2017	13:1	15:1	13:1
2016	14:1	15:1	14:1
2015	14:1	15:1	14:1
2014	13:1	16:1	13:1
2013	14:1	16:1	14:1
2012	14:1	15:1	14:1
2011	15:1	17:1	16:1
2010	14:1	17:1	15:1
2009	13:1	17:1	15:1
2008	13:1	17:1	16:1
2007	13:1	13:1	13:1
2006	12:1	13:1	12:1
2005	13:1	14:1	13:1
2004	12:1	13:1	12:1
2003	11:1	12:1	11:1
2002	12:1	13:1	13:1
2001	13:1	14:1	13:1
1999	12:1	15:1	13:1
1994	10:1	17:1	14:1
1993	13:1	16:1	14:1
1992	12:1	16:1	14:1
1991	13:1	16:1	14:1
1990	14:1	16:1	14:1
1989	13:1	16:1	14:1
1988	14:1	17:1	15:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1998-2020)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2020	1%	7%	1%
2019	1%	7%	1%
2013	1%	7%	1%
2012	1%	6%	1%
2011	1%	7%	1%
2010	2%	7%	2%
2005	1%	6%	2%
2000	1%	4%
1999	1%	4%
1998	1%	4%	1%

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Hispanic

10%

19%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	9%	19%	11%
2022	7%	18%	11%
2021	8%	18%	11%
2020	7%	16%	8%
2019	7%	16%	8%
2018	7%	15%	7%
2017	7%	15%	7%
2016	7%	14%	7%
2015	8%	14%	8%
2014	6%	13%	7%
2013	6%	12%	7%
2012	5%	12%	7%
2011	4%	11%	7%
2010	4%	10%	5%
2009	5%	10%	5%
2008	4%	10%	6%
2007	3%	9%	5%
2006	2%	8%	4%
2005	1%	7%	3%
2002	1%	5%	3%
2001	1%	5%	1%
2000	1%	4%	2%
1999	1%	4%	2%
1998	1%	4%	2%
1997	3%	3%	3%
1996	3%	3%	3%
1995	2%	3%	2%
1994	3%	3%	3%

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Black

13%

22%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	14%	22%	14%
2022	14%	22%	13%
2021	14%	22%	13%
2020	13%	22%	13%
2019	13%	22%	13%
2018	14%	23%	13%
2017	14%	23%	13%
2016	14%	23%	13%
2015	16%	23%	14%
2014	15%	23%	14%
2013	15%	23%	13%
2012	16%	24%	14%
2011	17%	24%	14%
2010	18%	26%	17%
2009	19%	26%	18%
2008	19%	27%	19%
2007	19%	27%	19%
2006	18%	27%	19%
2005	17%	27%	18%
2004	20%	27%	20%
2003	19%	27%	20%
2002	19%	27%	19%
2001	19%	27%	20%
2000	19%	27%	19%
1999	21%	27%	21%
1998	23%	27%	22%
1997	24%	27%	22%
1996	25%	27%	23%
1995	25%	26%	24%
1994	22%	26%	23%
1993	23%	26%	24%

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White

72%

44%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	70%	45%	69%
2022	73%	46%	69%
2021	71%	46%	71%
2020	75%	49%	73%
2019	75%	49%	73%
2018	76%	50%	75%
2017	76%	50%	75%
2016	75%	50%	75%
2015	73%	52%	74%
2014	75%	52%	74%
2013	74%	53%	74%
2012	74%	54%	74%
2011	73%	54%	74%
2010	76%	57%	76%
2009	76%	57%	76%
2008	77%	57%	75%
2007	78%	58%	76%
2006	80%	59%	77%
2005	81%	60%	77%
2004	80%	61%	78%
2003	81%	61%	78%
2002	80%	63%	78%
2001	80%	64%	79%
2000	79%	65%	79%
1999	77%	65%	77%
1998	75%	65%	75%
1997	73%	66%	75%
1996	72%	67%	74%
1995	73%	67%	74%
1994	75%	68%	74%
1993	75%	68%	73%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	6%	7%	4%
2022	6%	7%	5%
2021	7%	6%	5%
2020	4%	6%	5%
2019	4%	6%	5%
2018	3%	5%	5%
2017	3%	5%	5%
2016	4%	5%	5%
2015	3%	5%	4%
2014	4%	5%	5%
2013	4%	5%	5%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.46

0.72

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	0.48	0.71	0.49
2022	0.44	0.70	0.49
2021	0.47	0.70	0.47
2020	0.42	0.68	0.44
2019	0.42	0.68	0.44
2018	0.40	0.67	0.42
2017	0.40	0.67	0.42
2016	0.42	0.68	0.42
2015	0.44	0.66	0.43
2014	0.41	0.66	0.42
2013	0.43	0.65	0.43
2012	0.44	0.64	0.44
2011	0.44	0.64	0.43
2010	0.39	0.62	0.39
2009	0.41	0.60	0.39
2008	0.38	0.60	0.40
2007	0.36	0.59	0.38
2006	0.33	0.58	0.38
2005	0.32	0.57	0.37
2004	0.33	0.55	0.36
2003	0.31	0.55	0.36
2002	0.33	0.53	0.35
2001	0.33	0.52	0.34
2000	0.34	0.51	0.35
1999	0.37	0.51	0.37
1998	0.39	0.50	0.38
1997	0.41	0.49	0.39
1996	0.42	0.48	0.40
1995	0.41	0.49	0.40
1994	0.39	0.47	0.40
1993	0.39	0.47	0.41

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85-89%

89%

View Data

Graduation Rate Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	87%	89%	87%
2022	87%	89%	87%
2021	87%	89%	87%
2020	87%	89%	87%
2019	87%	87%	87%
2018	87%	88%	87%
2017	87%	87%	87%
2016	87%	87%	87%
2015	77%	86%	77%
2014	82%	85%	82%
2013	87%	85%	87%

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Eligible for

83%

55%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2023	70%	52%	76%
2022	42%	41%	50%
2021	41%	35%	51%
2020	40%	39%	47%
2019	40%	39%	47%
2018	37%	35%	42%
2017	37%	35%	42%
2016	36%	35%	44%
2015	37%	34%	45%
2014	33%	33%	43%
2013	32%	32%	41%
2012	34%	32%	41%
2011	33%	31%	39%
2010	34%	29%	37%
2009	32%	26%	38%
2008	40%	25%	41%
2007	27%	24%	34%
2006	26%	24%	32%
2005	22%	24%	29%
2004	21%	23%	27%
2003	19%	23%	28%
2002	18%	23%	27%
2001	21%	21%	25%
2000	18%	23%	25%
1999	22%	24%	29%
1998	19%	24%	28%
1997	17%	24%	27%
1996	18%	24%	29%

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Eligible for (21-22)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2002-2022)
Year	Nelson County High School	Virginia	Nelson County Public Schools
2022	7%	5%	8%
2021	9%	6%	9%
2020	6%	5%	6%
2019	6%	5%	6%
2018	8%	6%	7%
2017	8%	6%	7%
2016	7%	6%	6%
2015	9%	6%	7%
2014	9%	6%	8%
2013	10%	6%	9%
2012	9%	7%	9%
2011	7%	6%	8%
2010	8%	7%	10%
2009	7%	7%	10%
2008	10%	7%	12%
2007	7%	7%	10%
2006	8%	7%	10%
2005	10%	7%	11%
2004	11%	7%	12%
2003	6%	7%	8%
2002	6%	7%	8%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Nelson County Public Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-notes">School Notes

School Mascot: Governors

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nelson County High School's ranking?

Nelson County High School is ranked #158 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Virginia.

What schools are Nelson County High School often compared to?

Nelson County High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Nelson Middle School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

≥90% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% VA state average), while 80-84% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 69% VA state average).

What is the graduation rate of Nelson County High School?

The graduation rate of Nelson County High School is 85-89%, which is lower than the Virginia state average of 89%.

How many students attend Nelson County High School?

485 students attend Nelson County High School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

72% of Nelson County High School students are White, 13% of students are Black, 10% of students are Hispanic, and 5% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Nelson County High School?

Nelson County High School has a student ration of 11:1, which is lower than the Virginia state average of 14:1.

What grades does Nelson County High School offer ?

Nelson County High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (Supplemental Virtual).

What school district is Nelson County High School part of?

Nelson County High School is part of Nelson County Public Schools.

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