Education

Businesses in Hanover benefit from being located in a community with an award-winning public school system, as well as being centrally located among some of Virginia’s most esteemed colleges and universities.

The area is also home to a well-managed, jobs-focused community college system and an array of workforce training programs.

This outstanding and diverse education infrastructure allows students to enter the workforce and have access to nearly unlimited training and education resources. The extensive network of higher education and training opportunities provides the intellectual assets that students and business leaders need for company and career growth.

Educational Attainment

According to the 2010 Census, 86.0% of the Richmond MSA population over age 25 has at least a high school education, compared to 85.6% nationally.

Richmond compares favorably in higher education. Many residents in the region hold at least a Bachelor’s degree.

Public and Private Schools

Public Schools

In Richmond MSA:

Each locality in Greater Richmond has its own public school system and provides a full range of career prep, college prep, and honors/advanced placement classes.
More than 151,700 students are enrolled in the four Greater Richmond systems.
Six vocational/technical centers offer trade and industry classes and apprenticeship training.

In Hanover County:

Of the 15 largest school divisions in Virginia, Hanover County has the third lowest cohort dropout rates (2.7%) and the second highest four-year cohort graduation rate (95.2%).
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) classes and dual enrollment options are offered at all four Hanover high schools.
HCPS has 84 different career and technical education offerings, including classes at The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology and The Specialty Center at Hanover High School. In 2016, HCPS launched the Hanover Regional Governor’s School for Career and Technical Advancement, the first of its kind in the nation.
Hanover County was the first Virginia School division to receive the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award for Continuing Excellence.
Seventy-three teachers and four administrators have earned National Board Certification (highest per capita among school divisions in the Metro Richmond area).
Hanover ranks first among Virginia school divisions for the percentage of budget dollars designated for classroom instruction (73%).
100% of Hanover’s schools have achieved accreditation according to Virginia’s Standards of Learning assessments.
99.7% of Hanover teachers are “highly qualified” as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Hanover’s IB test scores exceed the international average.
Hanover students perform in the top five percent in the state on standardized tests.
Hanover is home to ten National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence awards.
Hanover received the SchoolMatch “What Parents Want” designation six years in a row. This award is reserved for those school districts in the nation that demonstrate high levels of student achievement and maintain emphasis on small class size.
A graduate warranty program assures that students are prepared for post-secondary education or entry-level employment.

Private Schools

The Richmond region has nearly 70 private and parochial elementary and secondary schools, with enrollment of more than 13,000 students.
Many private high schools are college prep schools. Virtually all graduates go on to four-year colleges and universities.
Special weekend and evening schools offering classes in language and culture have been created by the local German, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean communities.

Higher Education

In the Richmond region:

There are 10 four-year institutions and 13 two-year institutions, among other professional institutions.
Total enrollment in four-year and two-year institutions is greater than 80,000.
More than 15,000 degrees are conferred each year.
A full range of associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs is available. Courses of study include business, engineering, law and medicine.
Working adults have access to a number of strong evening, for-profit and continuing education degree programs.

Randolph-Macon College

An undergraduate, coeducational college of the liberal arts located in the town of Ashland in Hanover County.
The oldest Methodist-related college in continuous operation in the United States.
The beautiful 116-acre campus boasts 60 major buildings, including the 30,000 square-foot, state of the art Payne Hall housing the college’s Bachelor of Nursing program.
The curriculum includes 55 areas of study, including majors, minors and pre-professional programs.
Ranked in the Top 25 Best Colleges in Virginia (2018) by collegeconsensus.com. The Princeton Review ranked R-MC #17 on its 2020 list of Best Career Services.