Roanoke County Public Schools

Roanoke County School System

The Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS) is the 17th largest of 132 school systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the largest urban area west of Richmond, RCPS is the largest employer in Roanoke County. RCPS has 27 schools: 17 elementary, five middle, five high, and one specialty center. RCPS schools consistently rank among the best in Virginia on student achievement metrics and all are fully accredited by the Virginia Board of Education. RCPS also had an on-time graduation rate of 95% for the class of 2020. Two of our schools, Green Valley Elementary and Hidden Valley High, have received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Schools designation by the U.S. Department of Education and the division has been recognized as a School Division of Innovation by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mt. Pleasant Elementary was also recognized as a Distinguished Title I School by the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, Glenvar Middle, Hidden Valley Middle, Northside Middle, and William Byrd Middle have been recognized nationally as “Schools to Watch” by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.

RCPS is also known for its outstanding technology program. It is a member of the prestigious League of Innovative Schools, only one of 57 national schools invited to join. As an early adopter of a 1:1 digital learning environment, all high school and middle school students are provided laptops to use in school, as well as at home – access to these laptops allows teachers to integrate interactive lessons within their curricula and to personalize learning for each student. High school students access more than 90% of their textbooks from laptops. All RCPS also have a 3-D printer and many schools compete in robotics competitions. Promethean boards are in all core classrooms. Also RCPS has had an online high school program for over 12 years and high school students can take one online class during the school year using their Blackboard Learn environment. RCPS understands that teaching is more than just preparing students for end-of-year assessment tests. Acting upon feedback gathered from the business and higher education communities the school district is focusing on helping students develop Opportunity Ready Skills (creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication and citizenship) as part of its Profile of a Graduate.

Fast Facts (PDF)

Strategic Plan (PDF)

Resources

• Administration / Involvement - The Roanoke County School System’s commitment to staff development has resulted in an outstanding organization of school administrators, instructors, and guidance and support personnel, who are dedicated to providing our students with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success.
• Education Alternatives - View details on available education alternatives in Roanoke County, including magnet schools, technical academies, and schools for science and technology.
• Private Education Opportunities - View details about available private education opportunities in Roanoke County, including tuition and enrollment numbers.