Summary:
Mathews County Public Schools is served by a single high school, Mathews High, which enrolls 333 students in grades 8–12 in a small, rural Virginia school district. Because the district has only one high school, the school's performance metrics are identical to the district's. Mathews High has shown significant upward momentum in recent years, climbing from a 29th percentile state ranking in 2023–2024 to the 50th percentile in 2025–2026, and the district overall now holds a 3-star rating and ranks 53rd of 131 Virginia districts.
The school maintains a favorable 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio and invests $14,984 per student, which is notable given that roughly 73% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Graduation stands at 90.7%, slightly below the state's 92.3%, while the dropout rate of 3.9% is actually better than the 5.0% state average. Chronic absenteeism, however, is a concern at 18.8%, outpacing both the district (15.8%) and state (14.8%) rates.
Academically, the school posts impressive results in several areas. Eighth grade math proficiency soared to 71.43% versus just 46.86% statewide, and 8th graders taking Algebra I achieved 100% proficiency. Ninth graders taking Geometry and Biology also topped state averages at 90%, and 11th grade reading reached 91.67%. However, a clear pattern emerges: students taking core courses later in their high school careers tend to struggle more. Ninth grade Algebra I proficiency was just 67.65% compared with the 80.21% state average, and 10th grade Biology came in at 74.07%. Overall, Mathews High is a small school on the rise, with genuine bright spots in math and history, but it must address chronic absenteeism and support students who take required courses later to ensure continued improvement.
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