CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Three area school districts were named among the best in Virginia in Niche’s 2027 School Division Rankings, released Sept. 28.

Louisa County Public Schools received the region’s highest ranking at No. 5 out of the 130 divisions in Virginia overall while ranking as the No. 1 district for best teachers and for athletes and the No. 2 best district to teach in.

Albemarle County Public Schools ranked No. 13 in Virginia overall, as well as No. 7 for athletes. Charlottesville City Schools ranked No. 18 overall and No. 1 in the state for diversity.

LCPS Superintendent Doug Straley told Cville Right Now the division’s rankings were a testament to the educators, students and broader community in Louisa.

“Rankings like these are generally the result of having great people on your team,” he said. “And we certainly have great people all across our team.”

ACPS spokesperson Jason Grant said it was good to see where Niche ranked the division, adding it is in good company at No. 13 in the state.

“It’s always good to be able to see where third parties see we’re doing well and also looking at areas where we can continue to improve as a school division,” ACPS spokesperson Jason Grant told Cville Right Now.

CCS Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley shared a similar sentiment, expressing a particular pride in his division being named the most diverse in Virginia.

“I think that just accentuates how wonderful Charlottesville City is,” Gurley told Cville Right Now. “But also, how welcoming we are as a school division and how we work to support learners regardless of where they come from and their backgrounds.”

In addition to the rankings, every district was given grades in nine different categories that all contributed to its overall grade. Those categories were academics, teachers, clubs and activities, sports, resources and facilities, diversity, college prep, administration and food.

Louisa received an overall grade of A, with an A+ in sports and at least an A- in every category except college prep, which was a B+.

“Our community support is (a) tremendous part of the success that we achieve across the board,” Straley said. “Whether that’s athletics, whether that’s academics, across the board.”

Albemarle received an overall A-, with an A+ in college prep and at least an A- in every category except resources and facilities, which was a B, administration which was a B-, and food which was given a C.

“Our focus is on that lived experience of the students and families, that’s where we really focus in on,” Grant said. “But seeing third party rankings and how they evaluate lets you see what are we doing well? What are areas for opportunity?”

Charlottesville was given an overall B+, which an A+ in diversity and college prep and at least a B in every other category except for administration, which was a C+, and food, which was a C.

“The areas where it highlights growth, those are just opportunities for us to get better,” Gurley said. “There are opportunities for us to transfer better outcomes for students and staff and so, I think that a data point is a data point. It’s an opportunity for us to take some perspective and look at the measure and grow and get better.”

Elsewhere in the rankings, Nelson County Public Schools ranked No. 49 in the state and Greene County Public Schools was No. 61. Both divisions received an overall grade of B. While not listed in the overall rankings, Orange, Fluvanna and Augusta County Public Schools both received a B- overall. Madison County Public Schools was given a C+ and Buckingham Public Schools was given a C.