schoolsbycounty

Buchanan County Schools & Education

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

88.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

88.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 89.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,443

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,941

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#87

of 127 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Buchanan County

Measured School Summary

Buchanan County performs at an average level with a school score of 45/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.0%.

Funding Context

At $7,443 per pupil, Buchanan County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 17% below the Virginia average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Buchanan County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

9 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

45/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #87 of 127 Virginia counties with school score data.

Completion

88.0%

1.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,443

$498 below the state average

School coverage

9

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Buchanan County has 9 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Buchanan County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Buchanan County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 9 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#87

of 127 Virginia counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 89% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Buchanan County Public Schools

Elementary and high visible

2,462 students

Elementary 4Middle 0High 4Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Buchanan County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 9 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Buchanan County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in Buchanan County, Virginia

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

The Educational Fabric of Buchanan County

Buchanan County manages a network of nine public schools, including four elementary and four high schools. This unique structure, featuring a high ratio of secondary schools, serves a total of 2,462 students under one district. One additional school provides specialized or other educational services for the county.

Unified Under Buchanan County Public Schools

The Buchanan County Public Schools district oversees all nine schools and 2,462 students in the region. The county operates without charter schools, focusing all resources on its traditional public campuses. This centralized management helps maintain common standards across the county's varied mountain communities.

Deeply Rural and Community-Focused Schools

Every school in Buchanan County is located in a rural locale, highlighting the rugged and scenic nature of the area. Schools average 308 students each, but sizes vary from Riverview Elementary/Middle with 750 students to Hurley High with 216. This rural setting fosters strong local identity and community support for each neighborhood school.

School Overview

Total Schools

9

in Buchanan County

Reported Enrollment

2,462

8 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary4
Middle0
High4
Other1

1 School District in Buchanan County

Buchanan County Public Schools

9 schools
2,462 students enrolled

9 Public Schools in Buchanan County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 9 of 9 matching schools

Riverview Elementary/Middle

Buchanan County Public Schools

Grundy, 24614 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary750 students

Hurley Elementary/Middle

Buchanan County Public Schools

Hurley, 24620 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–7Primary357 students

GRUNDY HIGH

Buchanan County Public Schools

Grundy, 24614 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High355 students

Twin Valley Elementary/Middle

Buchanan County Public Schools

Oakwood, 24631 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–7Primary286 students

HURLEY HIGH

Buchanan County Public Schools

Hurley, 24620 / Rural: Remote

Record8–12High216 students

TWIN VALLEY HIGH

Buchanan County Public Schools

Pilgrim Knob, 24634 / Rural: Remote

Record8–12High194 students

Council Elementary/Middle

Buchanan County Public Schools

Honaker, 24260 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–7Primary185 students

COUNCIL HIGH

Buchanan County Public Schools

Honaker, 24260 / Rural: Distant

Record8–12High119 students

Buchanan County Technology Career & Higher Learning Center

Buchanan County Public Schools

Grundy, 24614 / Rural: Remote

RecordVocationalEnrollment not available

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,443

State avg $7,941

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Buchanan County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Virginia counties have the highest graduation rates?
Alleghany County (97.0%), Clarke County (97.0%), and Falls Church city (97.0%) currently lead Virginia among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Virginia?
Across Virginia counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,941. The highest current county values are Surry County ($12,490), Highland County ($12,429), and Arlington County ($11,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Buchanan County?
Buchanan County has a school score of 45/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Buchanan County?
The high school graduation rate in Buchanan County is 88.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Buchanan County spend per student?
Buchanan County spends $7,443 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Buchanan County, Virginia — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Buchanan County, Virginia?

Buchanan County manages a network of nine public schools, including four elementary and four high schools. This unique structure, featuring a high ratio of secondary schools, serves a total of 2,462 students under one district. One additional school provides specialized or other educational services for the county.

What are the major school districts in Buchanan County, Virginia?

The Buchanan County Public Schools district oversees all nine schools and 2,462 students in the region. The county operates without charter schools, focusing all resources on its traditional public campuses. This centralized management helps maintain common standards across the county's varied mountain communities.

What is the school experience like in Buchanan County?

Every school in Buchanan County is located in a rural locale, highlighting the rugged and scenic nature of the area. Schools average 308 students each, but sizes vary from Riverview Elementary/Middle with 750 students to Hurley High with 216. This rural setting fosters strong local identity and community support for each neighborhood school.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.