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James River High

Public Grades 9-12

23^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 328 Virginia High Schools

Better than 93% of Virginia high schools

Summary

James River High is a public high school in Buchanan, Virginia, serving 461 students in grades 9-12 and part of the Botetourt County Public Schools district, which is ranked 5 out of 129 school districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

James River High consistently outperforms state and district averages on SOL (Standards of Learning) tests, with 100% proficiency in Geometry, Algebra II, and English Reading for 11th grade in the 2024-2025 school year. The school maintains high graduation rates, ranging from 91.9% to 94.7%, and low dropout rates, from 1.3% to 5.3%, all above state and district averages. James River High also excels in supporting the academic achievement of various student subgroups, ranking highly in the state for female students, male students, low socioeconomic status students, and students with disabilities.

While James River High outperforms the nearby Lord Botetourt High School in several metrics, Lord Botetourt High also maintains a strong academic profile, with high graduation rates and SOL performance, suggesting a strong educational system within the Botetourt County Public Schools district. The school's fluctuations in chronic absenteeism rates and the need to maintain its high performance across all student subgroups may present opportunities for further improvement and targeted interventions.

464

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,470

Per pupil spending ?

36.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9906 Springwood Rd
Buchanan, VA 24066

(540) 254-1121

District: Botetourt County Public Schools

Feeder schools for James River High:

Elementary:	Breckinridge Elementary
	Buchanan Elementary
	Eagle Rock Elementary
Middle:	Central Academy Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.8%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Hispanic:

2.2%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 85th percentile in 2015 → 93rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (90% vs 81% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Virginia high schools

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Virginia average (92%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school90%

District avg88%

Virginia avg81%

23^rd of 328

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 8 pts since 2015

From top 15% (2015) to top 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Botetourt County Public Schools

5^th of 129Botetourt County Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	79.7	23 of 328	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	81.8	15 of 329	95.4%	★★★★★
2023	80.2	22 of 326	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	62.6	88 of 325	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	82.2	6 of 327	98.2%	★★★★★
2019	64.2	70 of 327	78.6%	★★★★☆
2018	68.3	46 of 326	85.9%	★★★★☆
2017	69.4	45 of 324	86.1%	★★★★☆
2016	68.6	51 of 321	84.1%	★★★★☆
2015	68.9	49 of 322	84.8%	★★★★☆
2014	56.4	106 of 322	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.6	91 of 321	71.7%	★★★★☆
2012	62.4	82 of 321	74.5%	★★★★☆
2011	70.4	46 of 320	85.6%	★★★★☆
2010	75.0	23 of 317	92.7%	★★★★★
2009	66.8	48 of 313	84.7%	★★★★☆
2008	69.1	47 of 316	85.1%	★★★★☆
2007	60.0	86 of 313	72.5%	★★★★☆
2006	60.5	75 of 314	76.1%	★★★★☆
2005	54.9	112 of 308	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	88.7	8 of 253	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.8	1 of 249	99.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	80.7	18 of 321	94.4%	★★★★★
2024	82.0	12 of 322	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	76.8	42 of 320	86.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	85.7	11 of 324	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	90.1	6 of 320	98.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	77.1	46 of 322	85.7%	★★★★☆
2024	83.0	16 of 322	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.5	11 of 321	96.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	67.8	89 of 313	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	57 of 314	81.8%	★★★★☆
2023	70.6	53 of 315	83.2%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2024)97th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)97th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)94th percentile~ school

Male (2025)86th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)72nd percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Geometry100%+15 vs state

Algebra II100%+6 vs state

English Reading93%+6 vs state

Biology88%+9 vs state

World History I87%+21 vs state

Algebra I86%+5 vs state

5.0

1 rating

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Schools Near James River High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Writing (2025)			SOL Geometry (2025)		SOL Algebra I (2025)			SOL Algebra II (2025)	SOL Mathematics (2025)		SOL Biology (2025)				SOL Science (2025)	SOL Earth Science (2025)			SOL English Reading (2025)						SOL Geography (2025)	SOL VA and US History (2025)	SOL World History I (2025)		SOL Civics and Economics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL World History I 8th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James River High	Public	9-12	9906 Springwood Rd	Buchanan	24066	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 254-1121	464	31	14.9	36.4%	426 (91.8%)	9 (1.9%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.9%)	79.7	23^rd of 328 public high schools	93.0%		81.8	15^th of 329 public high schools	95.4%	8				100.0			85.7		100.0			96.0	85.2										90.0	93.8					87.4		$10,470	$534	$9,936
Lord Botetourt High	Public	9-12	1435 Roanoke Rd	Daleville	24083	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 992-1261	963	60	16.0	28.8%	776 (80.6%)	24 (2.5%)	73 (7.6%)	21 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (7.1%)	71.3	82^nd of 328 public high schools	75.0%		72	70^th of 329 public high schools	78.7%	12				94.8			90.9		100.0			93.9	73.1	75.0			76.3	53.3						92.2			40.0		79.7		$9,372	$197	$9,175
Liberty High	Public	9-12	100 Liberty Minutemen Dr	Bedford	24523	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 586-2541	708	54	13.0	72.5%	549 (77.5%)	75 (10.6%)	32 (4.5%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (6.5%)	34.3	267^th of 328 public high schools	18.6%		34.7	264^th of 329 public high schools	19.8%	3		71.5		93.0			76.7	68.0				77.3	42.9											85.9			50.0		33.3		$9,864	$463	$9,401
Alleghany High	Public	9-12	210 Mountaineer Drive	Covington	24426	Alleghany County	Alleghany Highlands Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 863-1700	818	60	13.6	81.8%	666 (81.4%)	58 (7.1%)	44 (5.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (5.7%)	26.8	296^th of 328 public high schools	9.8%		30	286^th of 329 public high schools	13.1%	10		71.0	65.1	80.8			73.4	41.7					61.9		80.0		47.6		25.7					81.8	90.6	68.2	25.0		48.0		$9,060	$716	$8,344
William Byrd High	Public	9-12	2902 Washington Ave	Vinton	24179	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 890-3090	1,134	73	15.4	37.7%	890 (78.5%)	69 (6.1%)	97 (8.6%)	20 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (5.0%)	65.9	112^th of 328 public high schools	65.9%		69.1	94^th of 329 public high schools	71.4%	18				93.9	50.0		87.4	80.0	100.0				74.7				79.2						90.0	88.6			32.0		79.0		$10,163	$224	$9,940
Craig County High	Public	6-12	25239 Craigs Creek Road	New Castle	24127	Craig County	Craig County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 864-5185	278	27	10.2	81.3%	273 (98.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	64	121^st of 328 public high schools	63.1%		50.6	198^th of 329 public high schools	39.8%	77	71.4			100.0		93.3	89.3			50.0	63.6		73.1			60.7				69.1	73.5	74.1		87.1				37.0		66.7	$11,207	$590	$10,617

Frequently Asked Questions about James River High

What district is James River High in?

Botetourt County Public Schools

What schools feed into James River High?

James River High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Breckinridge Elementary
Elementary : Buchanan Elementary
Elementary : Eagle Rock Elementary
Middle : Central Academy Middle

How many students attend James River High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 464 students attended James River High.

What is the racial makeup of James River High?

Students at James River High are 92% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Is James River High a good school?

Yes. James River High ranks in the top 7.0% of Virginia high schools.

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Schools in Buchanan, VA

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.