High Schools in King and Queen County Public Schools

In rural King and Queen County, Virginia, Central High is the only high school in King and Queen County Public Schools, serving grades 7 through 12 with a combined enrollment of 265 students. Central High is a small, high-poverty school with a truly mixed profile: it has improved dramatically in state rankings over three years, posts graduation and dropout rates better than the state average, yet struggles with chronic absenteeism and very low middle-school math scores. The school has moved from near the bottom of Virginia high schools (298th out of 329 in 2023–2024) to roughly the middle (214th out of 331 in 2025–2026), now holding a 2-star rating while its district sits at 1 star.

Academically, Central High shows a striking divide between middle and high school. While 7th-grade math proficiency fell to just 5.88% in 2025–2026—compared to a state average of 51%—Algebra I proficiency among 9th graders reached 76.92%, close to the state’s 80%. Similarly, Biology proficiency (70.27%) and 11th-grade writing (84%) are at or above state levels, and the graduation rate of 94.4% exceeds the state’s 92.3%. The dropout rate is just 1.8% versus 5.0% statewide. However, 26.6% of students are chronically absent, nearly double the state rate, which likely undermines learning. The school offers a low 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio and spends about $13,550 per student, providing a solid foundation for individualized attention.

Because Central High has only 40–45 students per grade, test scores swing widely from year to year—11th-grade reading went from 92% to 74% in one year, while World History I jumped from 50% to 77%. Parents should interpret single-year results cautiously, but the consistently weak middle-school math performance and high absenteeism are clear warning signs. The most urgent priorities are reducing chronic absenteeism, targeting math instruction in grades 7–8, and stabilizing year-to-year outcomes. With strong graduation results and ample per-student resources, Central High has real strengths to build on, but addressing the middle-school academic gaps will be essential for future progress.