Summary:
Monterey, Virginia, is home to just 2 schools in the Highland County Public Schools district, serving roughly 208 students across grades PK-12 in a small, rural mountain community. The district itself ranks 54th out of 131 districts in Virginia, earning a 3-star rating. Highland Elementary serves grades PK-5 with 105 students, while Highland High serves grades 6-12 with 103 students, meaning there is no separate middle school in this tiny district.
The two schools offer very different profiles. Highland High posted a spectacular 2024-2025 performance, ranked #2 out of 328 high schools in Virginia with a 100% graduation rate, 0% dropout rate, and 100% proficiency on multiple SOL tests. By 2025-2026, though, it plunged to #190 out of 331. Highland Elementary, meanwhile, exceeded the state average in every reported Reading SOL across both years; 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade reading all beat the state, and 5th grade science hit 93.33% proficiency in 2024-2025. Its 4th grade math, however, has been a consistent weak spot at 64.29% and 58.82% versus the state's 73%. The elementary school's overall rank slipped from 394th to 626th, reflecting the same volatility seen at the high school.
Parents should know these scores swing wildly because the cohorts are tiny — roughly 15 students per grade at the high school, so a single student can shift proficiency by 6-9 points. Highland High spends $17,724 per student with a 6.7:1 student-teacher ratio, while Highland Elementary spends $14,111 with a 10.5:1 ratio. Chronic absenteeism is a real concern at the high school at 28.6%, nearly double the state's 14.8%, yet it still achieves perfect graduation and dropout outcomes. For parents, these schools offer small classes and strong personal attention, but rankings should be viewed with caution given the size-driven volatility.
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