Objective To evaluate the effect of nutrition education intervention on the growth of elementary schoolchildren in rural China. Methods A 2-year nutrition education interventional study was conducted with 244 schoolchildren (80 in the intervention school and 164 in the control schools) in a rural area of China receiving government subsidies. Nutrition education intervention included the modification of school meal menus, peer support activities, nutrition-related handbooks and posters, and nutrition courses. The measurable outcomes included the height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), the BMI-for-age Z-score (BAZ), and nutrient intakes. Results During the 2-year nutrition education intervention, the BAZ of the intervention group (0.04±0.88) significantly increased compared to that of the control group (-0.30±0.81, P<0.01). After adjusting for baseline BAZ and other potential confounders, the effect of nutrition education intervention on BAZ persisted (standardized coefficient: 0.322; P=0.000). Protein and other nutrient intakes substantially increased for the intervention group compared to the control group during the 2-year intervention. Conclusion Our findings suggest that nutrition education, in addition to government subsidies, is beneficial for the growth of schoolchildren in rural China.