Schools in Stuart, VA

The city of Stuart, Virginia, is served by two schools in the Patrick County Public Schools district — Patrick County High (grades 8–12, 795 students) and Stuart Elementary (grades PK–7, 361 students) — together enrolling about 1,156 students in a small, highly ranked district that is rated 5 stars and sits in the 92nd percentile of Virginia school divisions. For parents, the headline is encouraging: both schools beat the state average on most SOL tests while serving high-poverty populations, and Patrick County High is the clear standout.

The high school currently ranks 23rd out of 331 Virginia high schools (93rd percentile, 5 stars) and has landed in the top 10–15% of the state for three consecutive years. It posts exceptional test results, including 100% proficiency in Earth Science, 97% in 8th-grade Algebra I, 95% in 9th-grade Algebra I, and 93% in Geometry — all far above state averages. Its graduation rate is 96.2% and its dropout rate is just 1.8%, compared to state averages of 92.3% and 5.0%. Stuart Elementary is a solidly above-average school on the rise, jumping from the 59th to the 72nd percentile year over year (4 stars). Its upper-grade math program is a particular strength: 6th-grade math proficiency is 93.18% versus a 63.19% state average, and 7th-grade math is 76.74% versus 51.11% statewide.

The main weaknesses are specific and fixable. Patrick County High trails the state by about 8 points in Geography (64.52% vs. 72.24%), and Stuart Elementary sits slightly below its own district in 7th-grade Civics and 4th-grade Virginia Studies, though both remain near or above state averages. Chronic absenteeism is low at the elementary school (9.1%) but higher at the high school (13.0%), even as graduation outcomes stay excellent. The district spends about $2,085 more per student at the high school ($10,301) than at the elementary school ($8,216), reflecting smaller classes (13:1 vs. 15:1) and broader secondary offerings. With no standalone middle school, Stuart Elementary carries instruction through 7th grade and Patrick County High begins at 8th grade — an unusual split that both schools handle well.