High Schools in Russell County Public Schools

Russell County Public Schools in Virginia has three high schools—Lebanon High, Honaker High, and Castlewood High—serving grades 8–12 in a rural, economically disadvantaged area where roughly 89–91% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite similar poverty levels, each school has distinct strengths. Honaker stands out with the district’s highest graduation rate at 96.2% and a stellar 91.3% Biology proficiency, well above the state average. Lebanon excels in 11th-grade English Reading (93.1% proficient) and has the lowest dropout rate at 2.9%. Castlewood, while small, leads in attendance with the lowest chronic absenteeism (11.9%) and posted an impressive 95.9% Earth Science proficiency.

However, all three schools currently hold 1-star state rankings. Math is the district’s biggest weakness: Geometry proficiency ranges from 40–58% compared to the state’s 85.9%, and Algebra II scores are dramatically below state averages. Eighth-grade math is especially tough at Lebanon (15.6%) and Castlewood (25.0%), though Honaker matches the state. Castlewood also struggles with the highest dropout rate (10.1%) and the lowest average proficiency on common assessments (60.5%), despite spending the most per student ($9,509). Honaker’s ranking has collapsed from 3 stars in 2023–2024 to 1 star now, likely tied to its 18.1% chronic absenteeism rate. Lebanon has been consistently in the bottom quarter but keeps a steady 88.3% graduation rate.

Interestingly, high poverty does not predict all outcomes—all three schools beat the state in 11th-grade English Reading and Earth Science. But absenteeism and dropout aren’t linked: Castlewood has the best attendance yet the worst dropout rate, while Honaker has the worst attendance but the best graduation. Small enrollments at Castlewood (285 students) create volatile year-to-year swings. The district as a whole is rated 2 stars (39th percentile), meaning elementary and middle schools likely carry the district’s rating. For parents, the key takeaway is that these schools have genuine strengths in reading and science, but targeted help in math, dropout prevention, and attendance is needed to lift their rankings.