Learn About Charlottesville City Schools

At a Glance: Charlottesville City Public Schools

• Charlottesville City Schools (CCS) is a public school division in Central Virginia that serves approximately 4,500 students.
• CCS has an early education center, six elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, a career/technical education center, and two alternative academies.
• Charlottesville High School students can earn college-level credit through AP classes, as well as dual enrollment and dual degree programs.
• Languages taught at Charlottesville City Schools include Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese.
• Charlottesville City Schools are known for their fine arts programs, including winning statewide recognition and being invited to perform internationally.
• CCS works closely with educators and parents to develop Section 504 plans and IEPs for students with with disabilities.

Virginia places a high value on education at all levels. The City of Charlottesville, local private schools, and Albemarle County all offer excellent options for families with school-age children. If you have recently moved to or are thinking about moving to Charlottesville, here is what you need to know about Charlottesville City Schools.

Learn More About Charlottesville City Schools

My vision is for Charlottesville City Schools to become a place where everyone achieves their fullest potential… This means that our staff foster a love of learning in our students from the first hour of pre-K to graduation day. This means that every student leaves CHS with a plan for the future. Our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan provides a roadmap to reach these goals, with key focus areas of academic achievement, school culture, staff support, and operational strength.

– Dr. Royal A. Gurley, Jr., Superintendent

About Charlottesville City Schools

Charlottesville City Schools (CCS) is the public school system in the City of Charlottesville and serves about 4,500 students from PreK through 12th grade. It is separate from the Albemarle County Public Schools system. The division has one Early Learning Center for PreK students, six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

CCS also has two alternative academies and a career and technical center, and it operates the Hospital Education Program for children who are patients at UVA Children’s Hospital.

The superintendent of Charlottesville City Schools is Dr. Royal A. Gurley, Jr., who has been in that position since 2021.

• CCS Address: 1562 Dairy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903
• CCS Phone: 434-245-2400
• CCS Website: charlottesvilleschools.org

The Charlottesville City School Board is made up of seven members at-large. Board members serve staggered four-year terms. The Board works with the division superintendent to guide policies and goals for CCS and approve the annual budget, among other duties. School Board meetings are open to the public, including via livestream.

Learn more about the CCS School Board, including meeting times and ways to participate. 

The 2026-2027 Charlottesville City Schools Calendar

Advice for Parents of New Students

Planning a move to Charlottesville, or just arrived? Our Relocation Guide will help you learn all about the area and get answers to commonly asked questions as you settle in. Plus, find out more about education in the Charlottesville area, including public, private, and homeschool options.

Academic & Career Programs in Charlottesville City Schools

Charlottesville City Schools offer multiple paths for students to pursue challenging academics and explore career options that interest them. These include:

• Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center (CATEC): High school students can develop technical skills through hands-on and work-based learning activities while remaining enrolled in their home high school. Students who complete CATEC programs can receive industry certifications, along with earning high school elective credit or college credit. CATEC partners with local employers to help students enter their chosen career field after graduation.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Classes: A program of college-level classes available in high school. Student can earn college credit based on their score on the corresponding AP exam. Charlottesville High School (CHS) averages a 75% pass rate for AP exams and has been recognized by The Washington Post’s annual “Challenge Index.” CCS pays the cost of AP exams for students enrolled in AP courses.
• Dual Enrollment: Eligible CHS students can enroll in courses that earn dual college and high school credit at no additional cost. Courses are taught at the college level and appear on a student’s college transcript. Dual enrollment is offered through a partnership with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC).
• CHS/PVCC Dual Degree Program: High school students can participate in the Early College program to complete the General Studies (Associate of Science) and/or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) program and earn 32 college credits at no cost. UGCS is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college and will satisfy lower-division general education requirements at all of Virginia’s four-year public colleges and universities.

Learn more about CCS schools, centers, and programs.

Learn more about college-level courses at CCS.

Schools & Attendance Zones in Charlottesville City Schools

Attendance zones in Charlottesville City are for the elementary schools only. After elementary school, students attend Charlottesville Middle School (CMS) and Charlottesville High School (CHS).

Charlottesville City Elementary School Attendance Zones 2026-2027

The CCS elementary schools are:

• Greenbrier
• Jackson-Via
• Summit (formerly Clark)
• Sunrise (formerly Burnley-Moran)
• Tall Oaks (formerly Johnson)
• Trailblazer (formerly Venable)

 

Charlottesville City Schools Elementary School Rezoning

The CCS division is in the process of rezoning elementary school attendance zones. This process is intended to both move students from some residential areas to their closest neighborhood school and to account for projected population growth.

The rezoning process will be implemented gradually between 2027 and 2029.

Families that are able to supply their own transportation can apply for exemptions to rezoning.

Learn more about the CCS elementary school rezoning.

CCS Special Education & Disability Accommodation

Charlottesville City Schools provides accommodations and instruction to students with temporary or permanent disabilities through Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. These are developed in collaboration between teachers, parents, and when appropriate, students. Students’ progress is regularly assessed to ensure that they are receiving the services they need.

To qualify for an IEP and special education services, a student must be diagnosed with one or more of:

• Autism
• Deaf-blindness
• Deafness
• Developmental delay
• Hearing impairment
• Intellectual disabilities
• Multiple disabilities
• Orthopedic impairment
• Other health impairment
• Serious emotional disturbance
• Specific learning disability
• Speech or language impairment
• Traumatic brain injury
• Visual impairment including blindness

Special education instruction may take place in either special education classrooms or standard classrooms. Students are integrated with their peers as much as possible. Students who do not qualify for an IEP may still be accommodated with a 504 plan.

Homebound instruction is also available through CCS. The goal of homebound instruction is to provide educational continuity when students’ physical or psychological health needs prevent them from attending school. Students must have appropriate physician authorization for homebound instruction.

Contact Charlottesville City Schools About Special Education

Rachel Rasnake
Director of Student Services
434-245-2500

Learn more about special education services in Charlottesville City Schools.

World Languages in Charlottesville City Schools

Language classes are available to CCS students beginning in middle school. Language courses offered at Charlottesville Middle School, which count for high school credit, include:

• French
• Spanish
• Latin

Charlottesville High School offers additional language options:

• French
• Spanish
• German
• Latin
• Mandarin Chinese

For 11th and 12th graders, Charlottesville High School offers Advanced Placement (AP) languages, including:

• AP Chinese
• AP French
• AP German
• AP Spanish
• AP Latin

Fine Arts in Charlottesville City Schools

Charlottesville City Schools integrates fine arts into the daily curriculum beginning in elementary school. Older students have the opportunity to perform or exhibit locally, in statewide competitions, and sometimes internationally.

Elementary schoolers take music and art classes weekly, including learning ukulele and recorder. They also participate in choral performances and school plays. In middle school, students can choose to take band, choir, theater, art, or orchestra electives. In high school, arts education continues through standard, honors, and AP classes. There are also after-school programs available.

In the field of creative writing, Charlottesville City Schools is a sponsor of the Virginia Festival of the Book, which helps to bring professional writers into the community and schools. Students of all grade levels also have the opportunity to see arts in the community through field trips and visiting performers.

Reflections Governor’s Arts School

Reflections is a 10-day summer program for middle school students who are gifted in visual arts. Students must submit an application and are competitively selected from Charlottesville City, Albemarle, Greene, and Nelson Counties. Private and home-school students in the region may also apply. Talk to your middle schooler’s art teacher to learn more.

CCS Arts Awards & Honors

Arts awards and honors receive by CCS students and performance groups include:

• CMS Theatre regularly attends the Virginia Theatre Association festival
• CHS named a Blue Ribbon School by the Virginia Music Educators’ Association (multiple years)
• CHS band invited to perform in Rome at the New Year’s parade (2023-2024)
• CHS orchestra accepted invitations to perform across Ireland (2023-2024)
• CHS Theater participates in Virginia High School League competitions
• CMS and CHS students have won Gold Key awards through the Scholastic Art Awards

Learn more about fine arts at Charlottesville City Schools.

Explore all the educational resources in our blogs for Cville families! Learn how to identify your child’s learning style, ways parents can support homework success, and navigating college admissions.

Keep up with local school news for Charlottesville and Albemarle County when you sign up for our free CharlottesvilleFamily newsletter. Plus, meet the amazing local businesses and partners who help families thrive in our community.

KATHARINE PALJUG is a freelance writer and novelist who lives in Charlottesville with two busy kids. She is a big fan of public libraries, homemade muffins, and inclusive spaces for queer families.