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Every July and August, the parents and teachers of Prince Edward County take part in a tradition that feels unique – the “whisper wonder.” As back-to-school activities gear up and the last days of summer fly by, groups of parents and teachers begin to cluster and compare notes in hushed tones. The questions go like this: 

“Did you hear that the so-and-so is sending their kids to a school in another county this year? They aren’t moving though.”

“I heard this administrator has moved to a different county because of how frustrated they were with the communication around here.”

“Ms. So-and-so left because of everything. What a loss for our kids.”

“Have all the international teachers arrived yet? I wonder if they’ll get here before back-to-school night.”

Like a family preparing for a hurricane, Prince Edward parents and teachers huddle together bracing for the next bit of bad news. A beloved teacher has left. Dear friends won’t be in our children’s classes this year. Our kids won’t have the same resources as they had previously. Even as we can all empathize with the pressures our friends and neighbors feel to find high quality education and work, the emotional result is taxing and the community feels its impact. All of this is evidence of an inadequate system, yet the responsibility has been unfairly shifted onto parents and teachers to make the best decisions they can for their families.

Crunching numbers in Prince Edward

But, don’t teachers, administrators, and families change school systems every summer all across the state? Surely, some do, but it seems that not as many leave their counties as we see here in Prince Edward. According to VDOE data, the cohort of students in Prince Edward who were in 6th grade in 2023-2024 saw a net decrease of 9.8% in total enrollment from when that same cohort began formal schooling in 2017.

Schools in neighboring Charlotte County – in which some PE students enroll – saw a net increase of 22% in that same cohort for that same time period. Students are enrolling in schools neighboring counties even as their families continue to reside in Prince Edward. In fact, the US Census Bureau estimates that there has been a net migration from Charlotte County into Prince Edward for a similar time period. It’s clear that we have a vibrant community with much to offer our citizens and, yet, those with children continue to face the difficult question of schooling.

Beyond the fact that our school community faces the constant turmoil of lost relationships and institutional knowledge, this has a tangible effect on the resources available for our school division. The Commonwealth’s Standards of Quality funding formula uses student enrollment as one factor in determining how much support is needed for a particular division. While the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) has determined that funding statewide is below average and would require an additional expenditure of $1,900 per pupil to be up to standards across the board, this need is acutely felt here in Prince Edward County. Every student enrolled in a neighboring county represents financial resources that follow them there. Those financial resources translate to staffing, programs, and support that continue to experience challenges.

When will this change?

We continue to lose students…which continues to reduce our funding…which continues to limit the opportunities for our children…which continues to cause families to seek opportunities elsewhere…

And so, we continue to do the yearly “whisper wonder” when, really, what we are wondering is when will this change? When will we have to move to find something better? When will leaders stop blaming those who have left and start asking why they felt the need to leave in the first place? And, perhaps most importantly, when will Prince Edward’s schools will finally be the asset our community needs?

JOSH BLAKELY is a former candidate for Virginia’s 50th House District in the November election. He can be contacted at blakelyfordelegate@gmail.com.