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Callaghan Elementary

Q: Is Callaghan Elementary a good school?

Callaghan Elementary ranks 240 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

240^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Callaghan Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Covington, VA, serving 270 students as part of Alleghany Highlands Public Schools. Despite 83.3% of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, Callaghan Elementary has become one of the strongest schools in the region. The school currently ranks 240th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools, placing it in the 78th percentile with a 4-star rating — a dramatic rise from the 26th percentile just a decade ago.

Academically, Callaghan surpassed both district and state proficiency rates in every reported grade and subject in 2025–26. Math and science are particular strengths: 5th graders posted an 89.19% proficiency rate in math and 86.49% in science, outpacing the state by roughly 17 percentage points in both subjects. Reading proficiency also exceeded state averages across all grades. The school’s Low Socio-Economic Status subgroup ranked in the 84th percentile statewide, a strong indicator that Callaghan is effectively closing opportunity gaps for students from low-income backgrounds. Its results compare favorably to nearby schools — Callaghan outperforms Mountain View Elementary and Jeter-Watson Elementary by 20 to 40 percentage points in critical subjects, despite all three serving similar student populations. It also ranks ahead of nearby Eagle Rock Elementary and Valley Elementary.

One of the most striking factors behind Callaghan’s turnaround is attendance. The school cut its chronic absenteeism rate from 45.8% in 2021–22 to just 6.6% in 2024–25 — less than half the state average of 14.8% and dramatically lower than Mountain View Elementary (24.1%) and Jeter-Watson Elementary (23.3%). Callaghan also achieves these results efficiently, spending $8,950 per student — the lowest among nearby elementary schools — while maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 15.0. Only Sharon Elementary, ranked in the 96th percentile statewide, clearly outperforms Callaghan in the region, making this school an encouraging choice for families in the Alleghany Highlands area.

270

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,950

Per pupil spending ?

83.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4050 Midland Trail
Covington, VA 24426

(540) 965-1810

District: Alleghany Highlands Public Schools

Students who attend Callaghan Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Covington Middle
High:	Alleghany High

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.0%

Two or more races:

3.7%

Hispanic:

3.0%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Callaghan Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2016 → 78th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (84% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 52 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school84%

District avg73%

Virginia avg72%

240^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 52 pts since 2016

From bottom 26% (2016) to top 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Elementary Schools in the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools

67^th of 131Alleghany Highlands Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	77.4	240 of 1111	78.4%	★★★★☆
2025	66.6	398 of 1110	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.4	319 of 1114	71.4%	★★★★☆
2023	54.2	559 of 1114	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.0	592 of 1109	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.7	530 of 1103	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.3	573 of 1105	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.9	471 of 1097	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	41.5	746 of 1099	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	36.7	807 of 1096	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	32.2	849 of 1100	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.5	832 of 1110	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	37.8	792 of 1120	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	42.3	747 of 1117	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	57.3	502 of 1117	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	33.8	914 of 1113	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	67.1	319 of 1082	70.5%	★★★★☆
2008	29.3	908 of 1081	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	64.2	384 of 1083	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	37.6	800 of 1071	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	73.1	222 of 1062	79.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	76.8	233 of 1100	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	61.6	437 of 1096	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.9	514 of 1098	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.8	554 of 1100	49.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	162 of 1040	84.4%	★★★★☆
2025	70.3	253 of 1046	75.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.0	129 of 1036	87.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	74.2	272 of 1099	75.3%	★★★★☆
2025	69.9	338 of 1093	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	83.9	128 of 1101	88.4%	★★★★☆
2023	62.2	418 of 1093	61.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	52.9	486 of 974	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.0	611 of 973	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.7	487 of 979	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.6	748 of 984	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)84th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)79th percentile~ school

Male (2026)75th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)50th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics87%+13 vs state

Science86%+18 vs state

VA Studies84%+14 vs state

English Reading79%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Callaghan Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Mathematics (2026)					SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)					SOL Civics and Economics (2026)	SOL VA Studies (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL VA Studies 3rd Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	SOL VA Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Callaghan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4050 Midland Trail	Covington	24426	Covington city	Alleghany Highlands Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 965-1810	270	18	15.0	83.3%	243 (90.0%)	7 (2.6%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	10 (3.7%)	77.4	240^th of 1111 public elementary schools	78.4%		66.6	398^th of 1110 public elementary schools	64.1%	158	88.9	81.3	89.2			86.5	80.6	81.3	75.7					84.4		$8,950	$1,163	$7,787
Jeter-Watson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	560 West Indian Valley Road	Covington	24426	Covington city	Alleghany Highlands Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(540) 965-1430	491	38	12.9	83.3%	366 (74.5%)	49 (10.0%)	34 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (8.4%)	40.1	736^th of 1111 public elementary schools	33.8%		34.5	778^th of 1110 public elementary schools	29.9%	42	397.0	89.3	54.2			44.9	389.0	82.1	58.3				87.5	75.0	73.3	$10,103	$1,099	$9,004
Mountain View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Gleason Dr.	Covington	24426	Covington city	Alleghany Highlands Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 863-1737	415	38	10.9	82.7%	321 (77.3%)	38 (9.2%)	15 (3.6%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.4%)	34.1	800^th of 1111 public elementary schools	28.0%		33.5	792^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	28.6%	8	72.3	72.6	62.7			61.0	64.6	64.5	52.5					62.9		$11,342	$1,655	$9,687
Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-7	98 Panther Drive	Hot Springs	24445	Bath County	Bath County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 839-5395	184	9	21.0	100.5%	147 (79.9%)	12 (6.5%)	7 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.8%)	71.1	338^th of 1111 public elementary schools	69.6%		56.8	520^th of 1110 public elementary schools	53.2%	182	76.5	82.4	95.0	80.0	70.8	80.0	52.9	76.5	85.0	88.0	75.0	75.0		82.4		$11,881	$976	$10,905
Eagle Rock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	145 Eagles Nest Dr	Eagle Rock	24085	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 884-2421	121	11	11.2	70.2%	114 (94.2%)	2 (1.7%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.3%)	65.3	408^th of 1111 public elementary schools	63.3%		73.5	303^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	72.7%	105	100.0	77.3	85.7			78.6	88.2	68.2	92.3					59.1		$15,163	$2,203	$12,961
Sharon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Sharon School Cir.	Clifton Forge	24422	Alleghany County	Alleghany Highlands Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 863-1712	216	16	13.5	84.3%	188 (87.0%)	13 (6.0%)	4 (1.9%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.2%)	90.2	44^th of 1111 public elementary schools	96.0%		84.3	139^th of 1110 public elementary schools	87.5%	95	97.0	96.4	97.0			87.9	90.6	89.3	84.9					92.9		$11,026	$1,061	$9,965

Frequently Asked Questions about Callaghan Elementary

How many students attend Callaghan Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 270 students attended Callaghan Elementary.

What district is Callaghan Elementary in?

Alleghany Highlands Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Callaghan Elementary attend?

Students who attend Callaghan Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Covington Middle
High : Alleghany High

What is the racial makeup of Callaghan Elementary?

Students at Callaghan Elementary are 90% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 3% African American.

Is Callaghan Elementary a good school?

Callaghan Elementary ranks 240^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Callaghan Elementary!

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Schools in Covington, VA

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.