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Dr. Amy E. Cashwell became superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools in July 2018. A longtime educator, Cashwell came to Henrico with a wealth of experience and a passion for public education.

The five-member Henrico School Board consists of one elected representative from each of Henrico County’s five magisterial districts. The Board elects a chair and vice chair from within its ranks. The Board holds its monthly meetings and work sessions at the New Bridge Auditorium, 5915 Nine Mile Road, Henrico, VA. 23223.

Among central Virginia school divisions, HCPS employs the most teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Completion of the rigorous process is the profession’s highest mark of accomplishment. Since 2020, the division has led the commonwealth in new board-certified instructors. Twenty-eight more HCPS teachers achieved national board-certification in 2025 — 19th nationally and more than many large school systems, including New York City, Philadelphia and Seattle. 

The division has robust programs and support services for families of students with special needs; gifted students; homebound and homeschooled students; and students learning English as a second language.

High schools: Each of the division’s high schools is state-accredited and hosts one or more academic specialty centers. The specialty centers enable students with clear interests the chance to focus on a preferred area, such as engineering, the arts or world languages. The 2022-23 school year added two more compelling options for students: the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Varina High School, and the Center for Allied Health and Human Services at Hermitage High School. In 2026-27, the new Center for Cybersecurity will open at Henrico High School.

Middle schools: The 2024-25 school year saw the launch of its first Center for Innovation at John Rolfe Middle School, in partnership with VCU. A second center is planned for Quioccasin Middle School. The Gifted Young Scholars Academy at L. Douglas Wilder Middle School offers a comprehensive and rigorous interdisciplinary educational opportunity. Three middle schools offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years program and two high schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program.

Career and technical education: The division also has cutting-edge programs in career and technical education, at individual schools and at its Advanced Career Education centers. From learning about sustainable seafood in culinary arts classes to applying technology concepts at Richmond Raceway, HCPS’ Department of Workforce and Career Development helps students become effective participants in rapidly changing fields of the international economy.

Journey to 2030: In 2025, HCPS adopted a five year strategic plan, “Journey to 2030," a collective vision for the division's future, built on the voices and insights of those we serve. The plan's vision of empowering every learner provides a clear framework for sustaining an educational environment where every student has the opportunities they need to reach their full potential.

Building for the future: In fall 2022, Henrico voters authorized a bond referendum with 86% approval that provides $340.5 million for school projects and will rebuild or renovate five schools built between 1958 and 1971. With passage of the referendum, our community will be able to:

• Rebuild Quioccasin Middle School.
• Construct the cutting-edge Living Building environmental education center at Wilton Farm, on the James River, for use by HCPS students.
• Rebuild and increase the capacity of Jackson Davis Elementary School.
• Rebuild and increase the capacity of R.C. Longan Elementary School.
• Rebuild Highland Springs Elementary School.
• Renovate Charles M. Johnson Elementary School.
• Build a new Fairfield area elementary school to accommodate residential growth.
• Build a new West End elementary school to accommodate residential growth.

A project at the Campus of Virginia Randolph includes renovation of some buildings and rebuilding of others to create spacious, light-filled learning environments. The campus' Advanced Career Education Center is housed in new state-of-the-art structures in an expanded area of the grounds. The campuswide project will conclude in 2026.

The 2016 bond referendum, approved by 84%, built new campuses for J.R. Tucker and Highland Springs high schools, which opened for the 2021-22 school year, and a major addition to Elizabeth Holladay Elementary School. A renovation of Jacob Adams Elementary School will be completed for  the 2025-26 school year. In addition to bond funds, the high schools were financed with funds from the 2013 voter-approved meals tax. Renovation and expansion projects at the ACE centers at Hermitage and Highland Springs were completed during the 2023-24 school year.

Renovations at the old Highland Springs High School — now dubbed the Oak Avenue Complex — added dedicated areas for a variety of programs, such as expanding the An Achievable Dream Certified Academy program to middle school. The vision includes spaces for access to health care, mental health services and dental services; classrooms where family members can take classes or pursue a GED; and a food pantry. (Health services require the permission of parents or guardians.)

From academics to athletics, from the arts to career skills, Henrico County Public Schools is proud to be part of helping our community thrive by ensuring that each child has the right to achieve and the support to succeed. 

• HCPS’ annual “Career and Technical Letter-of-Intent Signing Day” has drawn international interest and spawned a host of similar events. The signing day is a career and technical education version of the common practice of athletes publicly signing letters-of-intent for NCAA athletics. Seniors sign agreements in front of families, future employers and the media.
• As part of our continuing intense focus on literacy, HCPS teamed with Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia to give students more reading options. People give about a million books to Goodwill each week in the region, most of which end up being recycled. The “Spreading Goodwill Through Books” program, coordinated by HCPS Library Services, lets staff members choose books for classroom libraries and distribution. More than 250,000 books have been reclaimed for students and families. 
• Henrico County Public Schools earned 22 awards for innovation for innovative programs in 2025 from the National Association of Counties. Across all county agencies, Henrico County earned 48 NACo awards. The total is the most of any county in Virginia for the 20th consecutive year and the eighth most in the country in this year’s competition. 
• For the 26th straight year, the National Association of Music Merchants named HCPS one of America’s “Best Communities for Music Education” for its commitment to music instruction.