Elementary Schools in Russell County Public Schools

Russell County Public Schools operates five elementary schools — Honaker, Castlewood, Lebanon, Lebanon Primary, and Belfast — serving grades PK–7, PK–7, 2–4, PK–1, and PK–5 respectively, with a combined enrollment of 1,766 students in a largely rural, high-poverty region of Virginia. The district overall ranks in the 39th percentile statewide, but individual schools vary dramatically in performance, making school choice particularly important for families in this area.

The clear academic standout is Belfast Elementary, which has ranked in the 87th–99th percentile over the past three years and posted an 88.5% average SOL proficiency in 2025–2026, despite having the highest student-teacher ratio (14.7) and the lowest per-pupil spending ($6,294) in the district. In contrast, Castlewood Elementary spends the most per student ($11,244), has the smallest classes (10.6 students per teacher), yet earns only a 58.6% average proficiency and ranks in the 17th percentile — the district’s weakest academic results. Honaker Elementary is the largest school (712 students) and consistently solid, ranking in the 68th–79th percentile with strong scores in science and reading, though its 6th-grade math proficiency slipped to 50%. Lebanon Elementary is the most improved school, jumping from the 44th to the 62nd percentile between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, with gains in every tested subject, including a 14.6-point increase in 3rd-grade math.

All five schools serve similarly high-poverty populations (FRL eligibility around 90%), yet outcomes differ widely, pointing to school-level factors rather than demographics. Lebanon Primary cannot be academically ranked because it only serves PK–1, but it posts the district’s best attendance record — just 6.6% chronic absenteeism, well below the state rate of 14.8%. Meanwhile, Belfast’s high achievement is tempered by a 22.0% chronic absenteeism rate, a potential vulnerability. Castlewood’s combination of high spending and low performance is the district’s most pressing concern, while Lebanon’s upward trajectory and Belfast’s continued excellence offer hope for improving Russell County’s overall standing.