A Pillar of Education

Chatham is a strong pillar of education in Pittsylvania County. Seven local schools serve the educational needs of Chatham's youth. Each has areas of excellence they bring to the students of the Town. Furthermore, two collegiate-level institutions are an easy commute from Chatham. Chatham offers diverse educational options to parents that are rarely available in most small towns.

The Town features two fully accredited public schools, Chatham Elementary and Chatham High. Their accreditation is based on Virginia's Standards of Learning education initiative. The third school, Chatham Middle, is a brand new school with its first school year starting in fall 2003. Its accreditation expected in the next 1-2 academic years. Public school students also have additional school options at the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center as well as opportunities in the Danville City School System such as a Montessori program, the NASA Galileo program, and the Governor's School.

Chatham also features three extremely strong private educational institutions: Chatham Hall, Hargrave Military Academy, and Woodlawn Academy. The Town is actually flanked by Chatham Hall, a very distinguished all-girls boarding school, and Hargrave, one of the finest military boarding academies in the country. Serving the younger set, Woodlawn Academy provides an environment characterized by a nurturing and caring faculty, small class settings, and active parental involvement.

Averett University, Danville Community College (DCC), and the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center provide adults with local opportunities ranging from continuing education programs to vocational training to undergraduate and graduate studies. Each school has an excellent reputation for working to make each student successful and striving to build a knowledgeable, adaptable and progressive workforce. Professional training and other specialized knowledge is available in several fields from state universities (Virginia, Virginia Tech, Longwood, and ODU) that have established locally accessible extension services, satellite learning centers, distance learning programs, and a research institute.