Private School Review - Established 2003
Tappahannock Junior Academy Top 17 ยท Lowest Tuition (VA)
St. Margaret's School

Best Essex County Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 private schools serving 24 students in Essex County, VA (there are 4 public schools, serving 1,163 public students). 2% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the VA state average of 11%).
The average acceptance rate is 70%, which is lower than the Virginia private school average acceptance rate of 79%.
100% of private schools in Essex County, VA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Episcopal and Seventh Day Adventist).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Essex County Private Schools (2026-27)

St. Margaret's School Photo
St. Margaret's School
Gr: 8-12
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 15 | Extracurriculars: 11
All-girls (Episcopal)
444 S Water Ln
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(804) 443-3357
View Profile
Tappahannock Junior Academy Photo
Tappahannock Junior Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 24 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 1
Seventh Day Adventist
170 Melody Ct
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(804) 443-5076
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (VA)
US
# Schools
2 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearEssex County Total Schools
20252
20242
20232
20222
20212
20202
20192
20182
20172
20163
20151
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# Students
24 Students
152,652 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202524169179
202424163172
202324167174
202229171185
202168165180
202070158171
201970161175
201870158172
201762166180
2016111163178
2015167149167
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% Average Students of Color
41%
31%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202541%31%34%
202441%31%34%
202341%31%33%
202240%30%33%
202140%29%32%
202023%29%32%
201923%28%31%
201823%28%31%
201714%31%32%
201610%31%32%
20158%32%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
3 Teachers
14,560 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
20258:110:111:1
20248:111:111:1
20238:111:111:1
202210:111:111:1
20216:111:111:1
20206:111:112:1
20196:110:112:1
20186:110:112:1
20175:110:112:1
20168:110:112:1
201510:111:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
50%
54%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2016-2025)

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202550%54%55%
202450%53%54%
202350%54%54%
202250%54%54%
202157%54%54%
202055%52%54%
201955%53%53%
201855%53%53%
201755%53%53%
201655%53%52%
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Average Class Size
10 students
14 students

Class Size Trends (2016-2025)

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
2025101415
2024101415
2023101415
2022101415
2021101415
2020101415
2019101415
2018101415
2017101415
2016111415
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Average Number of AP Courses
9 courses
12 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202591213
202491112
202391111
202291111
202191111
202091111
201991111
201891111
201791110
201691010
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$29,900
$17,257

Tuition Cost Trends (2016-2025)

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
2025$29,900$17,414$15,012
2024$29,900$15,256$13,254
2023$29,900$15,221$12,626
2022$29,900$14,456$12,187
2021$54,200$14,203$11,800
2020$51,400$14,291$11,512
2019$51,400$14,111$11,293
2018$49,900$13,894$11,017
2017$48,900$13,323$10,708
2016$47,900$12,876$10,356
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Average Acceptance Rate
70%
79%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2019-2025)

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202570%78%81%
202172%84%85%
202072%84%85%
201972%85%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.42
0.65

Diversity Score Trends

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
20250.420.650.65
20240.420.650.65
20230.420.650.65
20220.420.640.64
20210.420.640.64
20200.420.640.64
20190.420.620.63
20180.420.620.63
20170.420.610.61
20160.390.600.61
20150.340.620.61
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# American Indian Students
5 Students
492 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
n/a
# Asian Students
8 Students
8,941 Students
% Asian Students
4%
6%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
20254%7%5%
20244%7%5%
20234%7%5%
20224%5%4%
20214%6%4%
20204%5%4%
20194%5%4%
20184%5%4%
20174%4%4%
20163%5%4%
20151%5%4%
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# Hispanic Students
9 Students
6,674 Students
% Hispanic Students
4%
5%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
20254%4%9%
20244%4%9%
20234%4%9%
20224%4%8%
20214%4%9%
20204%4%9%
20194%3%8%
20184%4%8%
20174%3%8%
20163%3%8%
20152%3%8%
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# Black Students
30 Students
11,974 Students
% Black Students
15%
8%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202514%8%7%
202414%8%7%
202314%8%8%
202214%8%7%
202114%8%7%
202014%9%8%
201914%8%7%
201814%8%7%
201714%8%7%
20168%8%7%
20151%9%8%
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# White Students
155 Students
73,416 Students
% White Students
75%
49%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
202575%49%52%
202475%49%52%
202375%48%52%
202275%51%54%
202175%51%54%
202075%52%54%
201975%53%56%
201875%53%56%
201775%56%58%
201677%56%58%
201580%53%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
370 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
n/a
47,734 Students
% of Others Students
n/a
32%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearEssex County AverageVirginia (VA) AverageNational Average
20166%28%22%
201514%30%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
11 extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Essex County, VA?
The top ranked private schools in Essex County, VA is St. Margaret's School.
How many private schools are located in Essex County?
2 private schools are located in Essex County.
What percentage of students in Essex County go to private school?
2% of all K-12 students in Essex County are educated in private schools (compared to the VA state average of 11%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Essex County?
100% of private schools in Essex County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Episcopal and Seventh Day Adventist).

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