Alleghany High

Alleghany High is a public high school in Covington, VA, serving 818 students in grades 9–12 as part of Alleghany Highlands Public Schools. The school currently ranks 288th out of 331 Virginia high schools, placing it in the 13th percentile with a 1-star rating for the 2025–2026 school year. The student body is predominantly economically disadvantaged, with 81.8% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school faces significant challenges with attendance: 36.5% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, more than double the state rate of 14.8%. Graduation rates have also lagged, with the most recent rate at 87.8% compared with 92.3% statewide.

Compared with nearby schools, the differences are striking. James River High, in Botetourt County Public Schools, ranks 22nd in the state (93rd percentile), while Bath County High ranks 80th (76th percentile). Alleghany trails both schools in nearly every tested subject. For example, Algebra I proficiency is 71.5% at Alleghany versus 89.4% at James River and 94.3% at Bath County. In Biology, Alleghany's 62.5% proficiency falls well below James River's 90.6% and Bath County's 82.4%. Chronic absenteeism is especially concerning: 36.5% of Alleghany students are chronically absent, compared with 11.7% at James River and 12.8% at Bath County. Alleghany also spends less per student ($9,060) than James River ($10,470) and far less than Bath County ($17,136).

There are a few bright spots. Alleghany outperformed the state in 9th-grade Earth Science (85.1% vs. 74.8%) and nearly matched the state in Geometry (87.5% vs. 85.9%). In previous years, 12th-grade reading and writing scores have been at or above state averages. However, social studies remains a particular weakness, with only 27.3% proficiency in World History I compared with the state average of 72.2%. The comparison with Bath County High is especially revealing: both schools serve high-poverty rural communities with free/reduced lunch rates around 76–82%, yet Bath County ranks in the 76th percentile while Alleghany ranks in the 13th. This suggests funding differences may play a role. The most urgent issues are attendance and core subject proficiency, particularly in Algebra I, Biology, and social studies.