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Valley Elementary

Q: Is Valley Elementary a good school?

Valley Elementary ranks 338 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-7

338^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Valley Elementary is a small, rural PK-7 school in Hot Springs, Virginia, serving 184 students within Bath County Public Schools. The school serves a student body where effectively every child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, yet it has achieved a remarkable academic turnaround. After several years in the bottom half of Virginia elementary schools, Valley jumped to the 70th percentile statewide (rank 338 of 1111) in 2025-2026—its best performance in at least a decade. This upward trajectory is especially noteworthy given that the school operates with the highest student-teacher ratio in the area (21.0) and a modest per-student budget of $11,881, which is actually lower than same-district peer Millboro Elementary ($14,353) despite achieving stronger results.

One of the school's biggest success stories is its work with economically disadvantaged students. The low-income subgroup ranks in the 91st percentile statewide (5 stars), far exceeding the school's overall ranking—a sign that support systems are effectively reaching the students who need them most. The school has also cut chronic absenteeism dramatically, from 26.3% in 2021-2022 to 9.6% in 2024-2025, now well below both the state average (14.8%) and neighboring districts like Alleghany Highlands Public Schools (27.3%). Mathematics is a standout strength across every grade level, with 5th grade math proficiency at 95% (22.6 points above the state) and 7th grade math at 70.83%—both superior to comparable schools like Jeter-Watson Elementary and Mountain View Elementary.

However, two areas merit attention. Third grade reading has lagged the state average for three consecutive years (52.94% vs. 67.61% in 2025-2026), though reading scores recover strongly by grades 4 through 7, suggesting early-literacy intervention could pay dividends. Additionally, there is a significant gender gap: in 2024-2025, male students ranked in the 70th percentile statewide while female students ranked in the 19th. With small cohorts of roughly 20-30 students per grade, year-to-year swings are expected, but the overall trend at Valley—from the 32nd percentile in 2021-2022 to 70th today—represents a genuinely encouraging direction for this high-poverty rural school.

184

Students ?

21.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,881

Per pupil spending ?

100.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

98 Panther Drive
Hot Springs, VA 24445

(540) 839-5395

District: Bath County Public Schools

Students who attend Valley Elementary usually attend:

High:

Bath County High

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.9%

Two or more races:

9.8%

African American:

6.5%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Valley Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 56th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (79% vs 70% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Virginia median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg76%

Virginia avg70%

Elementary school

338^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

94^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 33 pts since 2016

From bottom 44% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Bath County Public Schools

21^st of 131Bath County 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	338 of 1111	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.8	520 of 1110	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.5	444 of 1114	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.1	602 of 1114	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.3	759 of 1109	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.4	758 of 1103	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.1	700 of 1105	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.4	649 of 1097	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	54.0	565 of 1099	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	58.6	483 of 1096	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	44.8	703 of 1100	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.3	731 of 1110	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	14.0	1064 of 1120	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	29.5	945 of 1117	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	35.2	876 of 1117	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	57.2	506 of 1113	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.4	473 of 1082	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	58.2	475 of 1081	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	41.8	729 of 1083	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.7	573 of 1071	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	58.8	451 of 1062	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	24.2	889 of 1096	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.0	735 of 1100	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	83.3	92 of 1040	91.2%	★★★★★
2025	61.5	384 of 1046	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.6	223 of 1036	78.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	78.7	205 of 1099	81.3%	★★★★☆
2025	71.1	324 of 1093	70.4%	★★★★☆
2024	64.1	417 of 1101	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.3	483 of 1093	55.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	58.3	437 of 974	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.6	629 of 973	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.1	688 of 979	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.6	789 of 984	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	72.5	94 of 416	77.4%	★★★★☆
2025	41.2	270 of 419	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.9	177 of 417	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.9	175 of 422	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.1	264 of 415	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.8	220 of 419	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.2	97 of 424	77.1%	★★★★☆
2018	52.0	198 of 413	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.6	101 of 415	75.7%	★★★★☆
2016	46.7	228 of 409	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	12.6	383 of 412	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	18.4	366 of 416	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	36.1	279 of 416	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.3	223 of 413	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	59.5	132 of 413	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.8	177 of 408	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	47.7	212 of 390	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	70.4	69 of 391	82.4%	★★★★☆
2007	42.9	249 of 387	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	63.1	101 of 383	73.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	62.5	163 of 407	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.9	186 of 411	54.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	69.7	90 of 401	77.6%	★★★★☆
2024	55.6	177 of 402	56.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	77.8	56 of 410	86.3%	★★★★☆
2024	60.6	160 of 407	60.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	52.9	187 of 400	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	18.1	361 of 400	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	40.2	262 of 396	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.5	222 of 402	44.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile+22 vs school

Male (2026)81st percentile+12 vs school

White (2026)55th percentile-14 vs school

Female (2025)19th percentile-34 vs school

Middle school

Male (2026)86th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile~ school

Female (2024)60th percentile~ school

White (2026)53rd percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies82%+12 vs state

Mathematics81%+12 vs state

Science80%+11 vs state

English Reading77%+5 vs state

Civics and Economics75%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Valley 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
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
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
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
Millboro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-7	411 Church Street	Millboro	24460	Bath County	Bath County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 997-5452	143	8	18.4	98.6%	136 (95.1%)	2 (1.4%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	61.4	459^th of 1111 public elementary schools	58.7%		72.2	321^st of 1110 public elementary schools	71.1%	138	80.0	75.0	87.5	392.0	68.8	87.5	50.0	81.3	81.3	66.7	75.0	68.8		75.0		$14,353	$808	$13,545
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Valley Elementary

Is Valley Elementary a good school?

Valley Elementary ranks 338^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Valley Elementary attend?

Students who attend Valley Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Bath County High

How many students attend Valley Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 184 students attended Valley Elementary.

What district is Valley Elementary in?

Bath County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Valley Elementary?

Students at Valley Elementary are 80% White, 10% Two or more races, 7% African American, 4% Hispanic.

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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.