Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Roanoke City Public Schools

Virginia · Public School District
24
Schools
13,597
Students
$17,733
Per-Pupil Spend
+24% nat'l
98.7%
Free Lunch Rate
+46pp vs nat'l
80.6%
Graduation Rate
-5.9pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Roanoke City Public Schools is a public school district in Virginia serving 13,597 students across 24 schools. It includes 17 elementary, 5 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 80.6% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $17,733 is above average for a US public school district. 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 40/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (24)
Middle Schools5 schools
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
PATRICK HENRY HIGH09–122,005
WILLIAM FLEMING HIGH09–121,911
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$17,733+24% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
44%
35%
State
43.6%
Local (property tax)
34.8%
Federal
21.7%

Funding is shared between state (44%) and local sources (35%), with notable federal support (22%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
24
Schools
13,597
Students
99%
Free Lunch
$18K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate80.6%
Opportunity Score40/100
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $17,733 per pupil — 24% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 24 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 80.6%, graduation is 5.9 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
22% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Roanoke City Public Schools?
Roanoke City Public Schools has 24 public schools, serving a total of 13,597 students.
What is the graduation rate for Roanoke City Public Schools?
The graduation rate is 80.6%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Roanoke City Public Schools spend per student?
Roanoke City Public Schools spends $17,733 per pupil — 24% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Roanoke City Public Schools?
99% of students in Roanoke City Public Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Roanoke City Public Schools?
No, Roanoke City Public Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Roanoke City Public Schools serve?
Roanoke City Public Schools serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Roanoke City Public Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Roanoke City Public Schools is 40/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.