The Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS) is the 17th largest of 132 school systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the largest urban area west of Richmond, RCPS is the largest employer in Roanoke County. RCPS has 27 schools: 16 elementary, five middle, five high, and one specialty center. RCPS schools continue to rank among the best in Virginia for student achievement and other measures of success. 

Our Mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment in which students are empowered by knowledge, skills, and experiences to thrive as tomorrow's leaders, workforce, and citizens.

Our goal is to prepare every student, in every school, and in every classroom to be Opportunity Ready.

Having all schools meet state and federal measures is one important benchmark for student achievement in RCPS. With regard to peer divisions, Roanoke County remains among the top performing suburban divisions in the state and we had the highest results in the region.  All schools were fully accredited for the 2019-2020 school year based on results from 2018-2019. RCPS also prides itself on having one of the highest on-time graduation rates in the state at 94.9% for the Class of 2019. 

RCPS is also known for its outstanding technology program. It is a member of the prestigious League of Innovative Schools, only one of 57 national schools invited to join. As an early adopter of a 1:1 digital learning environment, all high school and middle school students are provided laptops to use in school, as well as at home – access to these laptops allows teachers to integrate interactive lessons within their curricula and to personalize learning for each student. Promethean boards are in all core classrooms. Also RCPS has had an online high school program for over 12 years and high school students can take one online class during the school year using their Blackboard Learn environment. RCPS understands that teaching is more than just preparing students for end-of-year assessment tests. Acting upon feedback gathered from the business and higher education communities the school district is focusing on helping students develop Opportunity Ready Skills (creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication and citizenship) as part of its Profile of a Graduate.

Living in Roanoke County

Roanoke County is located in the southernmost end of the Shenandoah Valley, between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains.  Roanoke offers a wide variety of opportunity for its citizens.  One can take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Shop at the markets and boutiques in Downtown Roanoke and Salem.  Hike on a trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Go for a ride in America's East Coast Mountain Biking Capital. Discover wildlife while kayaking on the Upper James River Water Trail. Dine at a local restaurant and enjoy fresh, amazingly prepared ingredients, or sample the craft beverage scene.  Watch the sunset aboard a boat at Smith Mountain Lake.  No matter what you decide to do, there's a fun adventure for everyone in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.