Situated around beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia – which is frequently cited as one of America’s top college towns and best places to live, Albemarle County has often been described as home to the University of Virginia and has the best public schools.
It offers the incredible beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a friendly and welcoming community, awesome restaurants, and a vibrant music and arts scene. Shenandoah National Park, Richmond, Washington, DC, and the Atlantic beaches are close by, there is also a convenient airport and Amtrak station make travel to farther destinations a snap.
According to Wikipedia, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is a school district serving Albemarle County, Virginia. Its headquarters are in the City of Charlottesville. ACPS serves approximately 14,000 students in preschool through grade 12 in Albemarle County, Virginia, the sixth-largest county by area in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
A diverse locality of 726 square miles in the heart of Central Virginia, Albemarle County is a blend of primarily rural, but also suburban and urban settings. Albemarle was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a National Main Street City in 1993.
It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Romanesque Revival Opera House/Starnes Jewelers Building (1908) and three small historic districts in the city’s downtown area.
The educational system in Albemarle County is also something to write home about. As part of the learning experience, working in groups is part of the norm and there are key benefits to this, particularly building your interpersonal skills or that of your child.
The public schools in this county would aid in boosting the communication skills, social and creative skills of your child. In this article, you would learn the other reasons why you should consider attending Albemarle public schools, their ranking, tuition, and scholarship opportunities.
Are Albemarle County Public Schools good schools
There are a lot of reasons and factors which when put together go to show that the Albemarle County Public Schools are good schools. Below are some of the reasons why.
- In Albemarle County Public Schools, 75% of elementary students tested at or above the proficient level for reading.
- Albemarle County Public Schools, 76% of middle school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading
- In Albemarle County Public Schools, 91% of high school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 80% tested at or above that level for math.
- Albemarle County Public Schools spends $14,702 per student each year. It has an annual revenue of $180,917,000. Overall, the district spends $7,960.7 million on instruction, $4,530.5 million on support services and $350.6 million on other expenses.
- In 2018, research showed that in Albemarle County Public School graduates received 1,078 acceptances from 204 colleges and universities, including 146 acceptances from 15 of the top 25 national universities, according to rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
- Of the 1,070 graduates:
- 617 (57.7%) reported plans to attend a 4-year college.
- 255 (23.8%) reported plans to attend a 2-year college.
- 198 (18.5%) reported alternate plans, including other continuing education, military, employment, or something else.
These ratings and more are the makings of a good school.
Why attend Albemarle County Public Schools
In Albemarle County Public Schools, the goal is for every student to graduate having actively mastered the lifelong-learning skills they need to succeed as 21st-century learners, workers, and citizens. The teachers, administrators, and staff work hard every day to achieve this.
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Some of the things that are done in Albemarle County Public Schools are-
- The staff put policies in place to create a culture of high expectations for all. When students are aware of the policies put in place, it can help the students, the teachers and even the school as a whole to adhere to them.
- The school pays enough attention to Identify and remove practices that perpetuate the achievement gap. This attentiveness of teachers has been proved to be a very useful tool in curbing any form of vice in the school.
- Maximization of opportunities for students at all levels to identify and develop personal interests is one of the forefront goals. Teachers in Albemarle county understand that each student is different; as such, take it upon themselves to make each student maximize his or her opportunities.
- All Albemarle County public school students graduate with a career plan.
- Students are helped to establish short-term and long-term education/career goals which would lead them on even after their graduation from the school
- Counsellors are put in place to help students assess personal interests as they relate to career decisions;
- The staff play a vital role in encouraging students to formulate thoughtful educational plans that reflect rigorous academics in their chosen career directions;
- Students in Albemarle County public schools are reinforced and they participate in electives, extracurricular activities, and community service projects supporting their career directions
- Students in Albemarle County public schools are taught to include internships or cooperative work experiences during their junior and/or senior years and to take them very seriously as it would serve as a stepping stone to a lifelong career.
- In Albemarle County, it’s been made a point of duty to provide access to an education for every child. Most schools in Albemarle County cannot turn students away based on academic performance, income level or disability. This ensures that every has the same educational opportunities regardless of their current personal or financial situation.
- Students in Albemarle County public schools are also taught to conduct research with balance and depth so that no matter where they find themselves in the future, they can stand out.
- Albemarle County public schools students are trained mentally such as to develop their minds as well as recognize cogent and complex arguments
- Students in Albemarle County public schools are also taught to communicate effectively in a range of formats
- Making informed decisions is also one of the major lessons imbibed on Students in Albemarle County public schools
Are Albemarle County Public Schools Ivy League schools
In Albemarle County Public Schools, there are the best public schools in the state, with graduates each year continuing their education at schools like Yale. However, Albemarle County Public schools are not Ivy League schools themselves.
Albemarle County Public Schools Rankings
Albemarle County Public Schools is a highly rated, public school district located in CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. It has 14,404 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
According to state test scores, 82% of students are at least proficient in math and 79% in reading. Below are its rankings-
- Albemarle County Public Schools is ranked as one of the top 8 school divisions in Virginia and the number 9 best place to teach in the state by Niche. parents.
- In rankings of Best School Districts for Athletes in Virginia, it ranks 7 of 131
- In rankings of Best School Districts in Virginia, it ranks 8 of 131
- Best Places to Teach in Virginia, it ranks 10 of 132
In National rankings-
- In rankings of Best School Districts for Athletes in America, it ranks 240 of 10,801
- Districts with the Best Teachers in Virginia, it ranks 12 of 132
- Safest School Districts in Virginia, it ranks 26 of 132
- Most Diverse School Districts in Virginia, it ranks 68 of 132
- The Average Graduation Rate in Albemarle County is 91%
- Average SAT rate is 1250
- Average ACT rate is 29
Albemarle County Public Schools Admission Requirements
ACPS is one of the top-performing public school divisions in the state, and they have a rich tradition of academic and social excellence. You would study and live in a community that values and supports education.
The county always looks forward to working together to inspire, nurture, and motivate the child. In enrolling your child into any school, there are certain admission requirements you would have to meet up to.
Parents and guardians will need to complete the forms and submit the documents required in order to ensure a complete registration process. The registration steps are-
- Step 1- Review our admission requirements.
- Step 2- Determine your school attendance area.
- Step3- Complete an online registration form.
- Step 4- Present the required documentation
In going through this registration process, you must ensure that-
- Ensure your child would reach his/her fifth birthday on or before September 30th of the school year
- Ensure your child would not reach his/her 20th birthday on or before August 1st of the school year
- Reside in Albemarle County or be eligible for admission under School Board Policy JECA, Admission of Homeless Children
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You should, however, note the following conditions-
- A student whose parent/guardian moves from the county after the end of the first semester may be permitted to complete the school year in his/her current school with no tuition charge.
- A child whose parent/guardian plans to move to the county after the school year begins and who will reside in the county for the majority of the school year may be permitted to begin the school year in an Albemarle County public school. Tuition will be charged and held in escrow for the time the parent lives outside the Division and refunded if the parent moves into Albemarle County during the school year.
- A senior whose parent/guardian moves from the county after the end of the first semester of the student’s junior year may be permitted to complete his/her final year in the last high school attended with the payment of tuition.
- Students participating in a foreign exchange program approved by the School Board may attend school in Albemarle County so long as he/she is living with a resident host family.
- A child whose parent/guardian is employed full-time by Albemarle County Public Schools, CATEC, or certain Albemarle County Local Government departments may be admitted on a half-tuition basis.
What is the tuition rate in Albemarle County Public Schools?
The tuition rate varies from public school to school. However, the differences between the cost do not vary greatly. Tuition in Union County Public Schools has been estimated to cost about $212 – $220.
It should be noted that this covers only the cost of tuition. There may be other sidelined costs attached during the enrollment period.
Most public schools on the other hand are tuition-free. Asides from the costs for sports and equipment, you might not be required to pay school fees.
Scholarship Opportunities in Albemarle County Public Schools
In Albemarle County Public Schools, financial aid comes in many forms. Financial help can come through grants, work-study programs, loans, and scholarships.
There are several ways of getting these scholarships. They are mostly offered by individual colleges, national-level scholarships, local-level scholarships, and loans from private institutions or the government.
Some of these scholarship programs are-
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid-
This is one of the most well-known scholarship programs available to students of Albemarle public schools. Submitting the FAFSA to colleges will make you eligible for most of their financial aid programs.
Every school has a specific deadline for its students to apply for this scholarship. Once the time elapses, they would have to wait their turn again in the next year.
The FAFSA form will be asking about your income for the most recent completed year. It is to your benefit to prepare your taxes early, so your form will be as accurate as possible.
The scholarship form is filled and submitted online. The necessary documents and requirements are also things that can be provided online. It is usually done on a first come first serve basis.
This just means that the sooner you fill out the form and submit it, the better chance you have of getting the financial aid you need.
You can begin to apply for this scholarship program here.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship-
In this scholarship scheme, you would only be eligible if you are a resident of Virginia for at least one year prior to the deadline.
You must also be enrolled full time at an accredited college, university, or school of the arts, and must submit 10 slides of artwork for art, three films for film/video, or three research papers for art history.
The amount to be given is about $8,000.00
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Sponsor Cappex-
This scholarship is special because where many scholarship applications make you jump through hoops and require tons of essays and questionnaires, this scholarship application could not be more simple and straightforward.
Joseph Collins Foundation Scholarship-
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must obtain an application from the medical school authorities, complete it and return it to them for forwarding to the Foundation.
Selection is based upon financial need, scholastic record and standing, demonstrated interest in arts and letters or other cultural pursuits outside the field of medicine, intention to specialize in neurology, psychiatry, or general practice, evidence of good moral character, and attendance at an accredited medical school located east of or contiguous to the Mississippi River.
If you are shortlisted for this scholarship, you would be eligible for at least $10,000.00
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What are students at Albemarle County Public Schools like?
The student body at Albemarle County Public Schools has been slated as-
- 64.5% White students
- 10.8% Black students
- 13.2% Asian students
- 6.1% Hispanic/Latino students
- 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native students, and
- 64.5% Native Hawaiian students.
In addition,
- 0.1% of students are two or more races,
- 0% have not specified their race or ethnicity.
- 49% of students are female
- 51% of students are male.
Frequently Asked Questions
A scholarship search automatically returns scholarships by all different types of requirements. The scholarships listed above are either explicitly available for Albemarle County residents, or they do not require specific county residency at all and are therefore available to Albemarle County students and residents, as well as others across the state or country.
There are 249 scholarships totaling $624,163.00 available to Albemarle County residents.
There are about 14,000 students in Albemarle County Public Schools.
ACPS has 18 schools, including two middle schools, two K-8 schools, one pre-K school, and the internationally recognized Alexandria City High School.
The values of the County’s public schools are- Diversity, Relationships, Mutual Respect, Learning for All, Enthusiasm for Albemarle High School
Albemarle County is represented by Virginia’s two Senators and is completely within the 5th Congressional District.
Conclusion
Albemarle County Public School is a learning community that inspires all students to pursue their dreams, becoming lifelong learners and responsible citizens in a global society.
Despite its large size, Albemarle Public Schools is known for fostering strong relationships between and among teachers and students. Albemarle is also home to a vibrant community of artists.
