Norton City Public Schools

Norton City Public Schools is a small Virginia district made up of just two schools—Norton Elementary (PK–7) and J.I. Burton High (8–12)—serving a rural community with an unusually high rate of economic disadvantage. The district ranks in the top quarter of Virginia districts and holds a 4-star rating, which is remarkable given that nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.

Math is the clear strength across both schools. At Norton Elementary, math proficiency beat the state average in every tested grade in 2025-2026, with 7th grade soaring to 79.5% vs. 51.1% statewide. J.I. Burton High posted perfect 100% scores in Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, plus strong Biology results. The high school also excels at keeping students on track: its graduation rate is 98.6% (vs. 92.3% statewide) and its dropout rate is just 1.3% (vs. 5.0%). Chronic absenteeism is below the state average at both schools—9.6% at Norton Elementary and 12.7% at J.I. Burton—which likely supports these strong outcomes.

However, the picture is more mixed in other subjects. Norton Elementary saw a huge one-year jump in 4th-grade Virginia Studies (from 60% to 87.9%), while J.I. Burton’s geography scores fell sharply and its 10th-grade geography proficiency was just 45.5%, the district’s lowest score. Reading is strong in the middle grades but dips in 3rd and 5th grades at the elementary, and 11th-grade reading and writing are slightly below state averages. J.I. Burton’s overall ranking slipped from the 81st to the 55th percentile despite its graduation and math success, a reminder that small schools can see big swings year to year. For parents, the key takeaway is that Norton City Schools excels in math, attendance, and keeping students through graduation, while humanities and upper-level literacy deserve attention.