Summary:
Roanoke City Public Schools operates two traditional high schools — Patrick Henry High and William Fleming High — both serving grades 9–12 in Roanoke, Virginia, a district where the vast majority of students (87–92%) come from low-income households.
Patrick Henry is the stronger of the two schools. It ranks 296th out of 331 Virginia high schools, while William Fleming ranks 326th — putting it in the bottom 2% of the state. Patrick Henry’s graduation rate is 89.7% versus William Fleming’s 76.1%, and its dropout rate is much lower (8.2% compared to 17.7%). Chronic absenteeism also affects both schools, but Patrick Henry does better at 31.7% versus 36.0%. In nearly every SOL subject, Patrick Henry outperforms William Fleming, though both remain far below state averages. One notable difference: Patrick Henry’s student-teacher ratio is 13.9, while William Fleming’s is 15.0, and Patrick Henry spends slightly more per student. For parents, the data clearly show Patrick Henry is the more reliable choice academically, but both schools face serious challenges that families should understand.
There are a few bright spots. Both schools excel in advanced math — Patrick Henry’s 9th-grade Algebra II proficiency is 96.5%, and its 11th-grade Algebra I score is 92.6%, both above state averages. Upper-grade students also tend to score higher than younger students in English and Biology, suggesting some late improvement. However, writing and social studies are major weaknesses. For example, only 15.5% of Patrick Henry 9th-graders pass World History I, and William Fleming’s VA & US History proficiency is just 4.8%. Chronic absenteeism and high dropout rates at both schools — especially William Fleming — are likely tied to these low outcomes. While the district clearly has strong math instruction to build on, parents should expect that reading, writing, and history will need significant attention and support outside of school.
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