At a Glance: Albemarle County Public Schools
- Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 14,000 students in Albemarle County, located in Central Virginia.
- ACPS has 16 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools, a charter school, a career education program, and other learning centers.
- High school students in Albemarle County can earn college-level credit through AP classes, IB classes, and dual enrollment.
- Languages taught at Albemarle County Public Schools include Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Japanese, though not every school offers every language.
- Some ACPS elementary schools offer language immersion programs.
- Albemarle County works closely with parents and educators to develop education plans for students with disabilities, including homebound instruction when needed.
The Charlottesville area is a community that takes education seriously. Public schools in the city and county, as well as many private schools, offer an array of wonderful programs to choose among. If you have recently moved to or are thinking about moving to the Charlottesville area, here’s what you need to know about Albemarle County Public Schools.
Learn More About Albemarle County Public Schools
“My deepest hope for this year is simple: that every student reaches their full potential. I want our schools to be places where young people discover their passion for learning, explore their interests, and find the confidence to pursue what excites and inspires them. Each student brings something unique to our community, and I am committed to helping every one of them grow, thrive, and succeed.”
– Chandra Hayes, Ed.D., Acting Superintendent, August 2026
About Albemarle County Schools
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 14,000 students in Albemarle County, from PreK through 12th grade. The division has 16 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools, as well as a charter school and multiple learning centers in the region.
The acting superintendent of ACPS is Dr. Chandra Hayes, who began serving in 2026.
- ACPS Address: 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- ACPS Phone: 434-296-5820
- ACPS Website: k12albemarle.org
The Albemarle County School Board is made up of six members elected by district and one at-large member. The Board is responsible for working with the superintendent to guide policies and curriculum goals for ACPS. School Board meetings are open to the public, including via livestream.
Learn more about the ACPS School Board and find your member by district.
The 2026-2027 Albemarle County Schools Calendar
Advice for Parents of New Students
Planning a move to Albemarle County, or just arrived? Check out our Relocation Guide to learn all about the area and get answers to commonly asked questions. Plus, find out more about education in the Charlottesville area, including public, private, and homeschool options.
Academic & Career Programs in Albemarle County Schools
Albemarle County Public Schools offer a variety of ways for students to pursue challenging academics and explore career paths that interest them. These include:
- Community Lab School: This charter school program for middle and high school students promotes a project-based approach to learning. It focuses on student-driven work and uses multi-age classrooms to encourage peer mentoring and collaboration.
- Albemarle Career Exploration (ACE) Academy: This career-development program allows students to remain enrolled in their home high school while also developing skills in a career path of their choice. This includes hands-on experience and exposure to new technologies.
- 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. More than a third of ACPS high school students are enrolled in AP courses.
- Dual Enrollment: Students have the opportunity to earn college credit as both an ACPS student and a student at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). Dual enrollment courses are taught by PVCC instructors. College credit is earned based on course completion, not a final exam. Around a quarter of ACPS students participate in dual enrollment.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: IB is a course of college-level classes for high schoolers that is recognized around the world. In ACPS, it is available at the Community Lab School. Fewer than one percent of ACPS students complete an IB diploma.
Learn more about ACPS schools, centers, and programs.
Learn more about college-level courses at ACPS.
Students in Albemarle County Public Schools pursue a variety of pathways out of high school. The majority of seniors plan to pursue a degree at a 4-year university. Other paths include 2-year college, military service, or entering directly into employment.
Schools & Attendance Zones in the ACPS System
Attendance zones for ACPS are organized into three pathways based on where students live in the county. Each pathway terminates in one of the three high schools.
Albemarle County Elementary School Attendance Zones
The ACPS elementary schools are:
- Agnor (Charlottesville)
- Baker-Butler (Charlottesville)
- Broadus Wood (Earlysville)
- Brownsville (Crozet)
- Crozet (Crozet)
- Greer (Charlottesville)
- Hollymead (Charlottesville)
- Ivy (Charlottesville)
- Mountain View Primary (Charlottesville)
- Mountain View Upper Elementary (Charlottesville)
- Murray (Charlottesville)
- Red Hill (North Garden)
- Scottsville (Scottsville)
- Stone-Robinson (Charlottesville)
- Stony Point (Keswick)
- Woodbrook (Charlottesville)
Albemarle County Middle School Attendance Zones
The middle schools in Albemarle County are:
- Burley (Charlottesville)
- Henley (Crozet)
- Journey (Charlottesville)
- Lakeside (Charlottesville)
- Walton (Charlottesville)
Albemarle County High School Attendance Zones
The ACPS high schools are:
- Albemarle High School (Charlottesville)
- Monticello High School (Charlottesville)
- Western Albemarle High School (Charlottesville)
Special Education in Albemarle County Public Schools
Special education programs at ACPS are provided by trailed personnel to students with recognized disabilities including:
- 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
Accommodations and instruction are tailored to students’ individual needs based on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan developed in collaboration between teachers, parents, and students. Students’ progress is regularly assessed to ensure that they are receiving the services they need.
Special education instruction may take place in standard classrooms or in special education classrooms, and students are integrated with their peers as much as possible.
If necessary, homebound instruction is also available through ACPS for students who are unable to attend school due to either physical or psychological health needs. The goal of homebound instruction is to keep students current with classroom instruction and return them to school as soon as possible.
Contact Albemarle County Public Schools About Special Education
Ashley Struzik
Director of Special Education
Leslie Glover
Assistant Director of Special Education
Office: 401 McIntire Road, Room 323, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-296-5885
Learn more about special education in Albemarle County Public Schools.
World Languages in Albemarle County Public Schools
ACPS offers a variety of language study programs for students. ACPS students have the opportunity to begin language study in middle school and continue through high school, including AP language classes.
In middle school, students can begin taking French and Spanish. Languages available for study are Spanish, French, Latin, and German. Students at Albemarle High School can also study Japanese. AP Chinese and AP Japanese are available as self-study programs to all high school students.
Some ACPS elementary schools offer language programs as well, and the Department of Instruction is working toward integrating language instruction at all elementary schools.
Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES)
The FLES model incorporates instruction in a foreign language into the school day. The goal is for students to achieve a Novice High level of language mastery by sixth grade. Currently, ACPS offers French and Spanish FLES programs.
FLES in French is available at Meriwether Lewis Elementary School.
FLES in Spanish is available at Crozet, Mountain View, Murray, and Woodbrook Elementary Schools.
Language Immersion in Elementary School
In addition to the FLES program, Mountain View Primary and Mountain View Upper Elementary Schools offer a dual-language Spanish immersion program. Students receive half their instruction in Spanish and half in English. Classrooms are divided as evenly as possible between native Spanish and native English speakers. Students receive instruction from both fluent Spanish and fluent English teachers.
Learn more about World Languages at ACPS.
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 our 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.