Chesterfield County Schools
Families continue to choose Chesterfield County in part because of the public school system, which is consistently cited by SchoolMatch as having what parents want. Recognizing Chesterfield’s appeal, America’s Promise Alliance has named Chesterfield County one of the country’s 100 Best Communities for Young People for three years in a row.
With more than 58,000 students, Chesterfield is among the 100 largest school districts in the nation and the fourth largest in Virginia. The Chesterfield approach to education is working: Chesterfield is the largest school system to have every school accredited by the Virginia Department of Education, and student pass rates on Virginia’s rigorous Standards of Learning tests routinely surpass state averages. For the third straight year, the division made adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind.
Chesterfield has the lowest cost per student when compared to Virginia localities with 100,000 or more residents, according to the county’s internal auditor. Standard & Poor’s compared reading and math proficiency with money spent and determined that Chesterfield schools are extremely effective; the division ranks third among 15 of Virginia’s largest localities.
Attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff members is a priority. Chesterfield has 64 National Board certified teachers and 1,973 teachers with master’s degrees.
Chesterfield schools, students and staff members continually receive local, state and national recognition. Three schools — James River High, Clover Hill Elementary and Robious Elementary — are National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. The Milken Family Foundation has honored two Chesterfield teachers with National Educator Awards worth $25,000.
The 2008-09 operating budget of $594.5 million (per-pupil cost $9,903) is designed to prepare each student for success and includes these initiatives: a school readiness program for 4-year-olds at several schools; expansion of world language instruction in elementary schools; algebra for every student during their middle school years; encouragement for more high school students to enroll in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes or to pursue courses leading to an
industry certification; and safety nets for struggling students.
64 schools
— 38 elementary schools (grades K-5)
— 14 middle schools (grades 6-8)
— 11 high schools (grades 9-12) that include 11 specialty centers
— 1 technical center
Students
— 58,571 students as of Oct. 1, 2008
— Demographics based on 2008-09 enrollment show a student body that is 59 percent white, 28 percent black, 8 percent Hispanic, 3 percent Asian/Pacific Islander and 1 percent American Indian/Alaskan native/unspecified.
— 24.4 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in elementary and middle schools. High schools do not participate in the federal lunch program.
Residency requirement
Students must reside with a parent or legal guardian in Chesterfield County to attend Chesterfield County Public Schools. Students attend the schools in their attendance areas unless a waiver is granted or they are accepted in a center-based or specialty program. To determine school attendance area, call 748-1666 or go to the “quick links” section of chesterfield.k12.va.us and click on “school finder.”
Entrance age
Children must reach their fifth birthday by Sept. 30 of the school year to be eligible to attend kindergarten, which is a full-day program. There is a preschool program for children with disabilities who must be 2 years old by Sept. 30 to enroll. Full-day school readiness programs for at-risk 4-year-olds are available at several elementary schools.
2008-09 budget
$594.5 million operating budget
$9,903 per-pupil cost
Employees
7,493 total
Calendar
180 student days
Classes start Sept. 2, 2008, and end June 12, 2009.
Winter break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2.
Spring break is April 6-10.
With more than 58,000 students, Chesterfield is among the 100 largest school districts in the nation and the fourth largest in Virginia. The Chesterfield approach to education is working: Chesterfield is the largest school system to have every school accredited by the Virginia Department of Education, and student pass rates on Virginia’s rigorous Standards of Learning tests routinely surpass state averages. For the third straight year, the division made adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind.
Chesterfield has the lowest cost per student when compared to Virginia localities with 100,000 or more residents, according to the county’s internal auditor. Standard & Poor’s compared reading and math proficiency with money spent and determined that Chesterfield schools are extremely effective; the division ranks third among 15 of Virginia’s largest localities.
Attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff members is a priority. Chesterfield has 64 National Board certified teachers and 1,973 teachers with master’s degrees.
Chesterfield schools, students and staff members continually receive local, state and national recognition. Three schools — James River High, Clover Hill Elementary and Robious Elementary — are National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. The Milken Family Foundation has honored two Chesterfield teachers with National Educator Awards worth $25,000.
The 2008-09 operating budget of $594.5 million (per-pupil cost $9,903) is designed to prepare each student for success and includes these initiatives: a school readiness program for 4-year-olds at several schools; expansion of world language instruction in elementary schools; algebra for every student during their middle school years; encouragement for more high school students to enroll in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes or to pursue courses leading to an
industry certification; and safety nets for struggling students.
64 schools
— 38 elementary schools (grades K-5)
— 14 middle schools (grades 6-8)
— 11 high schools (grades 9-12) that include 11 specialty centers
— 1 technical center
Students
— 58,571 students as of Oct. 1, 2008
— Demographics based on 2008-09 enrollment show a student body that is 59 percent white, 28 percent black, 8 percent Hispanic, 3 percent Asian/Pacific Islander and 1 percent American Indian/Alaskan native/unspecified.
— 24.4 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in elementary and middle schools. High schools do not participate in the federal lunch program.
Residency requirement
Students must reside with a parent or legal guardian in Chesterfield County to attend Chesterfield County Public Schools. Students attend the schools in their attendance areas unless a waiver is granted or they are accepted in a center-based or specialty program. To determine school attendance area, call 748-1666 or go to the “quick links” section of chesterfield.k12.va.us and click on “school finder.”
Entrance age
Children must reach their fifth birthday by Sept. 30 of the school year to be eligible to attend kindergarten, which is a full-day program. There is a preschool program for children with disabilities who must be 2 years old by Sept. 30 to enroll. Full-day school readiness programs for at-risk 4-year-olds are available at several elementary schools.
2008-09 budget
$594.5 million operating budget
$9,903 per-pupil cost
Employees
7,493 total
Calendar
180 student days
Classes start Sept. 2, 2008, and end June 12, 2009.
Winter break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2.
Spring break is April 6-10.
Chesterfield County Elementary Shools
Alberta Smith Elementary School
Bellwood Elementary School
Bensley Elementary School
Beulah Elementary School
Bon Air Elementary School
Chalkley Elementary School
Clover Hill Elementary School
Crenshaw Elementary School
Crestwood Elementary School
Curtis Elementary School
Davis Elementary School
Ecoff Elementary School
Elizabeth Scott Elementary School
Enon Elementary School
Ettrick Elementary School
Evergreen Elementary School
Falling Creek Elementary School
Gates Elementary School
Gordon Elementary School
Grange Hall Elementary School
Greenfield Elementary School
Harrowgate Elementary School
Hening Elementary School
Hopkins Elementary School
Jacobs Road Elementary School
Marguerite Christian Elementary School
Matoaca Elementary School
Providence Elementary School
Reams Road Elementary School
Robious Elementary School
Salem Church Elementary School
Spring Run Elementary School
Swift Creek Elementary School
Watkins Elementary School
Weaver Elementary School
Wells Elementary School
Winterpock Elementary School
Woolridge Elementary School
Bellwood Elementary School
Bensley Elementary School
Beulah Elementary School
Bon Air Elementary School
Chalkley Elementary School
Clover Hill Elementary School
Crenshaw Elementary School
Crestwood Elementary School
Curtis Elementary School
Davis Elementary School
Ecoff Elementary School
Elizabeth Scott Elementary School
Enon Elementary School
Ettrick Elementary School
Evergreen Elementary School
Falling Creek Elementary School
Gates Elementary School
Gordon Elementary School
Grange Hall Elementary School
Greenfield Elementary School
Harrowgate Elementary School
Hening Elementary School
Hopkins Elementary School
Jacobs Road Elementary School
Marguerite Christian Elementary School
Matoaca Elementary School
Providence Elementary School
Reams Road Elementary School
Robious Elementary School
Salem Church Elementary School
Spring Run Elementary School
Swift Creek Elementary School
Watkins Elementary School
Weaver Elementary School
Wells Elementary School
Winterpock Elementary School
Woolridge Elementary School
Chesterfield County Middle Schools
Bailey Bridge Middle School
Carver Middle School
Elizabeth Davis Middle School
Falling Creek Middle School
Manchester Middle School
Matoaca Middle School
Midlothian Middle School
Providence Middle School
Robious Middle School
Salem Church Middle School
Swift Creek Middle School
Tomahawk Creek Middle School
Carver Middle School
Elizabeth Davis Middle School
Falling Creek Middle School
Manchester Middle School
Matoaca Middle School
Midlothian Middle School
Providence Middle School
Robious Middle School
Salem Church Middle School
Swift Creek Middle School
Tomahawk Creek Middle School
