Henrico County Public Schools

Henrico County Public Schools is a Virginia school division that operates as an independent branch of the Henrico County, Virginia county government and administers public schools in the county. Henrico County Public Schools has five International Baccalaureate schools—John Randolph Tucker High School, Henrico High School, Fairfield Middle School, Tuckahoe Middle School and George H. Moody Middle School. Statistics District There are 72 total schools and program centers. There are 46 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 9 high schools, 3 Advanced Career Education Centers, 3 alternative program centers, and a virtual academy. Additional schools are being planned to be built as of March 2023. At the elementary level, the pupil/teacher ratio is 19.1, while at the high school level, the ratio is 18.3. There are 2,893 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers in the district. The district had a budget of 762.9 million dollars in 2022–2023. Students There are 21,483 students at the elementary school level, 11,108 at the middle school level, and 15,798 at the high school level. 588 students are classified as attending other programs, leading to a total of 48,977. Of these students, 35.2% are African American, 33.5% are Caucasian, 13.2% are Asian, 12.5% are Hispanic, 5.2% are members of multiple races, and 0.4% are in the "other" category. In 2022, 90% of the students graduated on-time, and there were 3,716 graduates. 73% planned to continue their education, and 21.9 million dollars were awarded in scholarships. 44.9% of students were eligible for free and reduced-cost school meals. Leadership Superintendent Superintendent Dr. Amy E. Cashwell, former chief academic officer of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, took office July 1, 2018, succeeding the retiring Dr. Patrick C. Kinlaw. School Board As of 2026, there are five members of the Henrico County School Board, one for each of the five magisterial districts: Brookland District: Kristi B. Kinsella Fairfield District: Ryan E. Young, Vice Chair Three Chopt District: Madison T. Irving, Chair Tuckahoe District: Marcie F. Shea Varina District: Alicia S. Atkins Pupil transportation In Henrico as well as other places, one-room schoolhouses gradually evolved into elementary schools with multiple classrooms, separated by grade. The centralization of schools meant that children often lived too far away from the closest of these schools to walk as they had previously to the smaller schools. Henrico began transportation of some children via farm wagons, and the program quickly grew. In 1933, Henrico County Public Schools began operating school buses. By 1960, the county was operating 118 buses, which had increased to 158 by 1964. Fleet maintenance for all county and school board vehicles had been located at Dabb's House on Nine Mile Road and at a West End depot formerly located on the site now occupied by Regency Mall. Yet, in the early 1970s, maintenance operations were consolidated at a new facility on Woodman Road in the northern section of the county. The Henrico school division is one of the larger school bus programs in Virginia and the United States. As of the 2021–22 school year, Henrico County Public Schools used a fleet of 627 school buses. Henrico County Public School buses make two to four runs into and out of schools every school day, transporting more than 28,000 students to school and bringing them home daily. Most buses are Type C "conventional" or Type D "transit" buses; bus models include the International FE, International RE, and the Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX. Currently, the bus system is divided into five areas: 1/East, 2/North, 3/Northwest, 4/West, and 5/Northeast. While most buses use ultra-low-sulfur diesel, 10 propane-powered buses are being piloted. The division attempts to replace buses at least every 13 years. During the 2023-2024 school year, the division used over a million gallons of diesel fuel for its buses alone, which traveled over 10 million miles. Technology Laptop program Henrico County Public Schools was one of the first school divisions in the U.S. to distribute laptop computers to students, during the 2001 school year. Initially, the four-year, $18.6 million project was for high school students alone. However, the middle school program was also phased in 2002. Up until the 2005–06 school year, Apple computers were used exclusively. In 2005, Dell was awarded a contract with HCPS for high school students. Middle school students received Dell units at the beginning of the 2010–11 school year. In 2018, the school division partnered with Microsoft and Dell to bring Windows 10 and Dell Chromebooks to students. Response to the laptop program has been mainly positive. Notable persons and accomplishments Two local educators associated with Henrico County Public Schools became notable for contributions to the development of educational programs for African-American students in the late 19th and early to mid-20th Century. Virginia Randolph Virginia Randolph (1874–1958) became notable for her many years and contributions to the development of educational programs for African-American students during the days of segregated schools in Virginia. Educated at Richmond's Armstrong High School, in 1892, Randolph opened the Mountain Road School in the north-central part of the county. As a teacher there, she taught her students woodworking, sewing, cooking and gardening, as well as academics. In 1908, Henrico County Superintendent of Schools Jackson Davis named her to become the United States' first "Jeanes Supervising Industrial Teacher". As the supervisor of 23 elementary schools in Henrico County, Virginia Randolph developed the first in-service training program for African American teachers and worked on improving the curriculum of the schools. With the freedom to design her own agenda, she shaped industrial work and community self-help programs to meet specific needs of schools. During her 57-year career, although she remained at work in Henrico County, she became recognized worldwide as a pioneering educator, humanitarian and leader, especially in the field of vocational education. She retired in 1949. In Glen Allen, the Virginia Randolph Home Economics Cottage was made into a museum in memory of Randolph in 1970. The Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission designated the museum a State Historic Landmark. In 1976 the museum was named a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of Interior, National Park Service. Randolph reportedly had an office in the building. Her grave site is on the grounds. Randolph is interred on the museum grounds. In modern times, the Academy at Virginia Randolph in Glen Allen, Virginia and a special education center are each named in her honor. The Virginia Randolph Foundation, formed in 1954, annually awards scholarships to Henrico County high school students who will be attending a four-year college or university. Jackson T. Davis Jackson T. Davis (1882–1947), a Richmonder, was a graduate of the College of William and Mary and Columbia University. He headed school divisions in Williamsburg and Marion before coming to Henrico as division superintendent in 1905. After his tenure at HCPS, Davis became state agent for African American rural schools for the Virginia State Department of Education from 1910 to 1915. He went on to also become an internationally known leader in his field. Henrico County's Jackson Davis Elementary School, dedicated in 1964, was named for him. His collection of photographs of Virginia's negro school facilities of the era is notable among many items of his career which were donated to the University of Virginia and are among the special collections there. Accolades In 2022, Henrico County Public Schools was named one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America," earning this designation for the 22nd year in a row. Henrico County Public Schools named National School Library Program of the Year for 2011.(AASL) Specialty Centers Henrico County Public Schools is notable for its specialty center programs. These programs feature advanced curriculums that are tailored to a specific field or subject, ranging from the medical sciences to the visual and performing arts. Programs may also provide special opportunities like internships, dual enrollment classes, culminating projects, etc. Students are required to submit an application in either 5th or 8th grade, with the exception of the Advanced Career Education programs that accept students in 10th and 11th grade. Students are also required take assessments on writing, reading, and math. Schools High schools Middle schools Elementary schools Other The division offers preschool programs at many sites, including an Early Learning Preschool at the New Bridge Learning Center. The division operates two Adult Education Centers, one on Nine Mile Road and one at Regency Mall. The school division offers remedial classes to high school students at Highland Springs High School and Virginia Randolph. It offers the General Academic Program with transitions to the Individualized Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) program at two sites. It also offers the Generating Recovery of Academic Direction Center at one site. HCPS operates the Virginia Randolph Education Center campus, which offers the Academy at Virginia Randolph and the Virginia Randolph Education Center. The division offers its Elementary Intervention Program at New Bridge Learning Center. The division operates Henrico Virtual Academy, which closed its K-2 classroom in April 2026. The county pays for students to be sent to two regional high schools: CodeRVA and Maggie Walker Governor's School. References Further reading Gabay, Barry (October 16, 2015). "SOCIOECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND THE GREATER RICHMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT: THE FEASIBILITY OF INTERDISTRICT CONSOLIDATION" (PDF). University of Richmond Law Review. 51: 397–438. External links Official website