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Charlottesville City Schools

Welcome

Charlottesville City Schools: Better Together

Vision

Charlottesville City Schools will be a community of hope, growth, and learning where barriers are eliminated and possibilities are limitless.

Mission

We are an interconnected, equity-focused school community committed to providing the skills and knowledge needed for lifelong learning, engaged citizenship, and personal fulfillment.

RELATIONSHIPS: We build authentic connections with each other, elevating diverse perspectives by promoting mutual trust, respect, and a sense of belonging.

GROWTH: We create an environment that promotes personal and organizational improvement through collaboration, reflection, support, and effort.

JOY OF LEARNING: We foster curiosity, play, and exploration to inspire active engagement, discovery, and achievement.

WELL-BEING: We prioritize mental wellness, safety, and physical health. We recognize that we are better together. 

Our Schools

2027 Niche Best Schools

Charlottesville City Schools is the public school division of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia. We are home to about 4,500 students in pre-K through Grade 12.

School Reconfiguration Achieved!

Our long-awaited school reconfiguration is finally complete. As of Fall 2026...

  • The fully expanded and renovated Charlottesville Middle School serves 6-8th grade
  • 5th graders are now a part of their neighborhood elementary schools
  • Preschoolers are united at the Charlottesville Early Learning Center (the former Walker Upper Elementary). We plan to break ground on a new pre-K building at this site in the near future. 

1 Pre-K: Charlottesville Early Learning Center

Ages 3 and 4

Greenbrier

Jackson-Via

Summit (formerly Clark)

Sunrise (formerly Burnley-Moran)

Tall Oaks (formerly Johnson)

Trailblazer (formerly Venable)

1 middle school: Charlottesville Middle School

Grades 6-8

1 high school: Charlottesville High School

Grades 9-12

Launch Pad: Grades K-5

New Pathways Academy: Grades 7-8 

Lugo-McGinness Academy and Knight School: Grades 9-12

1 career & technical center: CATEC

Grades 9-12

Adult programs are also available through our division’s partnership with PVCC at the Thomas Jefferson Adult and Career Education Center (TJACE) and CATEC. 

In addition, the City Schools operates the University of Virginia Medical Center’s Hospital Education Program.

Uniquely Cville Schools

Excellent academics

Charlottesville City Schools support students to develop academic curiosity and confidence. Teachers and staff work closely with families to help each child reach their full potential. By the time they graduate, more than half of CHS students will have taken at least one AP Exam, and 32% will have taken 5 or more.

Great teachers

We’re proud to attract top talent—our team includes National Board Certified Teachers, grant winners, and innovative educators at all levels.

Strong school communities

Our schools are a home away from home for our students, with strong relationships at the core. At school-wide morning meetings and pep rallies, we build community, highlight student achievements, and have fun. In addition, each school has its own rituals for marking milestones in learning, cultural events, and the rhythm of the school year.

Commit­ment to arts and sciences

Students begin taking music, art, and iSTEM classes in kindergarten. This early introduction prepares them for advanced opportunities at CMS and CHS … from flying drones to playing in the orchestra, from studying photography to competing in robotics.

Charlottesville is our classroom

Our schools benefit from the many facets of our city, from its one-of-a-kind place in American history, to its natural beauty, to its enduring community spirit. Each year students expand their horizons with special field trips to museums, outdoor excursions, and cultural events.

Learning in nature

Each of our schools has ample access to the natural world, including gardens, fields, trails, and forests. Whether it’s unstructured play at an elementary mud kitchen or an urban farming class growing mushrooms, students have many opportunities to learn outside.

United by the Knights

Students and families of all ages cheer on the orange and black (Young Knights at CMS and the Black Knights at CHS)! Friday night football and basketball draw big crowds, as do artistic, theatrical, and musical productions throughout the year.

Extra supports for student well-being

We value students’ physical and mental health, which is why all schools have a full-time school nurse, a full-time school counselor, and an additional mental health professional, with additional counseling staff at our secondary schools. In addition, our special education and related services are staffed at robust levels to ensure all students with disabilities have the support they need to succeed in school.

A reflec­tion of Charlottesville’s diversity

At Charlottesville City Schools, students from all backgrounds, neighborhoods, and cultures come together to learn and grow. We’re committed to creating a sense of welcome and belonging for every child.

By the Numbers

$124.9M
Operating budget (FY 26)


11
Schools

4,376
Student enrollment (2025-26)

 

40
Languages spoken by students

914
Number of staff (2025-26)
 

14.1

Our teachers’ average years of experience in the classroom (2025-26)

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