Highlights and Initiatives

Roanoke’s on-time graduation rate is 90%.

Both high schools are modern with state-of-the art facilities.

In November 2018, Caroline Eschenbach of Virginia Heights Elementary received a $25,000 prize from the Milken Foundation.  She is only recipient from Virginia this year.  Click here for more information about the award.

In September 2018, Jamie Nichols of Lucy Addison Middle was named the Region 6 Teacher of the Year.

In July 2018, Crystal Spring Elementary received the 2018 Governor's Award of Education Excellence.  Only 14 schools state-wide were recognized.  Grandin Court Elementary was awarded the Board of Education Excellence Award and Wasena Elementary received the Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award.

In May 2018, the Air Force JROTC units at Patrick Henry and William Fleming High Schools each earned the Distinguished Unit with Merit Award.  Only 118 units nationwide received this distinction.

In March 2018, the Patrick Henry High School Forensics Team won a State Championship.  The Patriots have won four state titles in Forensics the last five years. 

In February 2018, Patrick Henry High School Girls Swim Team won its third consecutive State Title. 

In February 2018, Noah Bowers of Patrick Henry High School won two individual State Titles in swimming.

In February 2018, Tyress Wade of William Fleming High School won his second consecutive State Title in wrestling.

Forest Park Academy has exceeded 1,000 graduates.  It is a specialized school that allows high school students to graduate, no matter the challenges.

Anne Travers of Virginia Heights Elementary received the 2018 Special Education Teacher Award from the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET).

Jeff Midkiff of Patrick Henry High School received the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award in June 2017 at Yale University.

​Eighth graders and all high school students receive laptops for school and home use

The Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science and Technology (RVGS) is a specialized regional center for the advanced study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  RVGS serves 269 students from 7 localities.  Roanoke City has 128 slots available.

The Community College Access Program (CCAP) allows graduating seniors to attend Virginia Western Community College tuition-free for up to three years. To learn more about the program, click here

Students from Patrick Henry and William Fleming High School can take dual enrollment classes at Virginia Western Community College.

Students participate in 42 different sports programs at the middle and high school levels.

RCPS offers 27 Advanced Placement (AP) courses for high school students.  Additional AP courses are offered through Virtual Virginia.

All students have access to musical instruments, thanks to a partnership with VH1 Save the Music Foundation.  Middle and high schools have string orchestras, bands, and choral programs.

High school students from Patrick Henry and William Fleming can take a variety of Career and Technical Education classes.  During 2017-2018, 1,596 industry certifications were awarded.


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The NAMM Foundation has named RCPS one of the best communities for music education six years in a row.

RCPS has Pre-AP/Honors Programs at all five middle schools.

Each summer, we offer a six week summer enrichment program for rising kindergarten through rising 8th graders. The program is free for RCPS students.

Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) received the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award from Yale University for its partnership with the Roanoke Symphony.

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Elementary Schools:  17

Middle Schools:  5

High Schools:  2

Programs:  4 (Forest Park Academy, Governor’s School for Science and Technology, Roanoke Technical Education Center (ROTEC) and Noel Taylor Academy).

Need to know what school your child will attend?  View Attendance Zones here. To see a virtual tour of any of our schools, click here. 

Number of students (Pre-School – Grade 12):  13,686

Total Staff: 2,218

Special Education Students:  2,155

English Language Learners:  1,723

Gifted Students:  959

Student Ethnic Distribution

African American:  44.48%

Caucasian:  37.17%

Hispanic and other:  18.35%