 Public K – 12 schools in Virginia are generally operated by the counties and cities , and not by the state . As of 2011 , a total of 1 @,@ 267 @,@ 063 students were enrolled in 1 @,@ 873 local and regional schools in the Commonwealth , including three charter schools , and an additional 109 alternative and special education centers across 132 school divisions . Besides the general public schools in Virginia , there are Governor 's Schools and selective magnet schools . The Governor 's Schools are a collection of more than 40 regional high schools and summer programs intended for gifted students . The Virginia Council for Private Education oversees the regulation of 320 state accredited and 130 non @-@ accredited private schools . An additional 24 @,@ 682 students receive homeschooling . 
