Best Public Schools in Pulaski, VA

Pulaski, Virginia, has 4 schools in Pulaski County Public Schools, serving elementary and middle school grades (K-8, plus a virtual K-12 school), in a small town where all in-person schools share similarly high poverty levels. Critzer Elementary is the clear standout: it ranks strongest overall (51st percentile), posts the best test scores (e.g., 80% proficient in 3rd grade math vs. 74% statewide), and has the lowest chronic absenteeism (4.8% vs. 21.7% at Pulaski County Middle). It also spends the most per student ($9,346) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.5:1). Meanwhile, Pulaski Elementary sits in the middle: its proficiency rates are mostly near or slightly below state averages, with 5th grade math (74.6%) as a bright spot, but its chronic absenteeism (11.6%) is more than double Critzer’s.

Pulaski County Middle stands out for perfect 8th grade Algebra I proficiency (100% in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026) and 7th grade math above the state (62% vs. 51%), but it struggles with the highest chronic absenteeism in the district at 21.7%, and its overall rank remains in the 38th percentile. The Pulaski County Public Schools Virtual School K-12 is the weakest overall (11th percentile) and highly inconsistent: 4th grade VA Studies proficiency is just 7.14%, and lower-grade math scores range from 39% to 46%, yet 7th and 8th grade reading exceed state averages (79.5% vs. 72.7% statewide). Its 0% chronic absenteeism reflects its virtual model, but its 40.2:1 student-teacher ratio suggests limited individualized support.

The big takeaway: poverty level alone does not predict success. All three in-person schools serve roughly 91% free/reduced-price lunch populations, yet outcomes diverge sharply based on attendance, spending, and class sizes. Critzer’s low absenteeism and high per-pupil funding correlate with the strongest results, while the middle school’s high absenteeism likely drags down otherwise competitive math scores. The virtual school shows that online learning can work for older, self-directed students, but it is not effective for younger learners. At the district level, the 55th percentile ranking masks a wide range of school quality, and with no high schools in the data set, the picture of post-elementary preparation remains incomplete. Parents should weigh attendance patterns, school-specific programs, and the strong advanced-math pathway at the middle school when choosing among these options.