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James River High

Q: Is James River High a good school?

Yes. James River High ranks in the top 6.6% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend James River High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 464 students attended James River High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of James River High?

Students at James River High are 92% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Q: What schools feed into James River High?

James River High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Breckinridge Elementary Elementary : Buchanan Elementary Elementary : Eagle Rock Elementary Middle : Central Academy Middle

Public Grades 9-12

22^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 93% of Virginia high schools

Summary

James River High in Buchanan, VA, is a mid-sized public high school serving 464 students in grades 9–12 as part of Botetourt County Public Schools, a district ranked 7th out of 131 in Virginia. The school holds a 5-star rating and ranks 22nd out of 331 Virginia high schools for the 2025–26 school year, placing it in the top 7% statewide. It has stayed in the top 25 for most of the past five years, with the exception of a pandemic-era dip in 2021–22 from which it quickly recovered.

Academically, James River stands out. Its graduation rate of 96.2% beats the state average of 92.3%, and its dropout rate of 1.8% is far better than the 5.0% statewide figure. SOL scores are consistently strong: 100% proficiency in Geometry, 89.4% in Algebra I, 90.6% in Biology, and 95.3% in English Reading. The school is especially effective with students who often face more challenges—students from low-income households rank 9th in Virginia, and female students also rank 9th. Disabled students ranked 1st in the state in 2022–23. This means the school's high overall rank isn't driven by a narrow group; it's serving a wide range of students well.

Compared with nearby schools, James River is the clear leader. Lord Botetourt High, its same-district counterpart, ranks 95th with a 95.0% graduation rate. William Byrd High ranks 146th, Craig County High 201st, Liberty High 235th, and Alleghany High 288th—none come close to James River's top-25 finish. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 11.7% is below the state average of 14.8%, though it has crept up over the past few years and is worth watching. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.9 and per-student spending of $10,470, James River shows that a smaller, well-resourced school can outperform larger neighbors while producing strong results for all students.

464

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,470

Per pupil spending ?

36.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9906 Springwood Rd
Buchanan, VA 24066

(540) 254-1121

District: Botetourt County Public Schools

Feeder schools for James River High:

Elementary:	Breckinridge Elementary
	Buchanan Elementary
	Eagle Rock Elementary
Middle:	Central Academy Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.8%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Hispanic:

2.2%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare James River High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 84th percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (92% vs 79% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Virginia high schools

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Virginia average (92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school92%

District avg87%

Virginia avg79%

22^nd of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Botetourt County Public Schools

7^th of 131Botetourt 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	80.2	22 of 331	93.4%	★★★★★
2025	79.7	23 of 328	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	81.8	15 of 329	95.4%	★★★★★
2023	80.2	22 of 326	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	62.6	88 of 325	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	82.2	6 of 327	98.2%	★★★★★
2019	64.2	70 of 327	78.6%	★★★★☆
2018	68.3	46 of 326	85.9%	★★★★☆
2017	69.4	45 of 324	86.1%	★★★★☆
2016	68.6	51 of 321	84.1%	★★★★☆
2015	68.9	49 of 322	84.8%	★★★★☆
2014	56.4	106 of 322	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.6	91 of 321	71.7%	★★★★☆
2012	62.4	82 of 321	74.5%	★★★★☆
2011	70.4	46 of 320	85.6%	★★★★☆
2010	75.0	23 of 317	92.7%	★★★★★
2009	66.8	48 of 313	84.7%	★★★★☆
2008	69.1	47 of 316	85.1%	★★★★☆
2007	60.0	86 of 313	72.5%	★★★★☆
2006	60.5	75 of 314	76.1%	★★★★☆
2005	54.9	112 of 308	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	69.3	51 of 252	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	88.7	8 of 253	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.8	1 of 249	99.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	83.8	9 of 322	97.2%	★★★★★
2025	80.7	18 of 321	94.4%	★★★★★
2024	82.0	12 of 322	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	76.8	42 of 320	86.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	84.9	9 of 321	97.2%	★★★★★
2025	85.7	11 of 324	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	90.1	6 of 320	98.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	82.0	20 of 325	93.8%	★★★★★
2025	77.1	46 of 322	85.7%	★★★★☆
2024	83.0	16 of 322	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.5	11 of 321	96.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.8	41 of 312	86.9%	★★★★☆
2025	67.8	89 of 313	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	57 of 314	81.8%	★★★★☆
2023	70.6	53 of 315	83.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)97th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)97th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)94th percentile~ school

White (2026)87th percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2026)80th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+21 vs state

English Reading95%+9 vs state

Algebra II94%~ state avg

Algebra I89%+11 vs state

Biology88%+11 vs state

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Schools Near James River High

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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 Writing (2026)			SOL Geometry (2026)				SOL Algebra I (2026)					SOL Algebra II (2026)				SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Chemistry (2026)		SOL Biology (2026)				SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)				SOL English Reading (2026)							SOL Geography (2026)				SOL VA and US History (2026)			SOL World History I (2026)					SOL World History II (2026)				SOL Civics and Economics (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 Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 12th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Algebra II 12th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Chemistry 10th Grade	SOL Chemistry 11th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th Grade	SOL Geography 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 10th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 8th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 9th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL World History II 11th Grade	SOL World History II 12th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James River High	Public	9-12	9906 Springwood Rd	Buchanan	24066	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 254-1121	464	31	14.9	36.4%	426 (91.8%)	9 (1.9%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.9%)	80.2	22^nd of 331 public high schools	93.4%		79.7	23^rd of 328 public high schools	93.0%	1				100.0	< 50%				89.4	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		93.8							≥ 50%		95.2	90.6	50.0					≥ 50%						≥ 50%	95.3	≥ 50%						≥ 50%			369.0	≥ 50%			≥ 50%					$10,470	$534	$9,936
Lord Botetourt High	Public	9-12	1435 Roanoke Rd	Daleville	24083	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 992-1261	963	60	16.0	28.8%	776 (80.6%)	24 (2.5%)	73 (7.6%)	21 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (7.1%)	68.1	95^th of 331 public high schools	71.3%		71.3	82^nd of 328 public high schools	75.0%	13				93.3	397.0				89.0	401.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	93.9	≥ 50%						420.0	< 50%	93.0	72.0	77.8	434.0		86.7	68.8	428.0	≥ 50%					421.0	91.5	469.0						396.0	≥ 50%		384.0	≥ 50%								$9,372	$197	$9,175
Liberty High	Public	9-12	100 Liberty Minutemen Dr	Bedford	24523	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 586-2541	708	54	13.0	72.5%	549 (77.5%)	75 (10.6%)	32 (4.5%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (6.5%)	42.3	235^th of 331 public high schools	29.0%		34.3	267^th of 328 public high schools	18.6%	32	≥ 50%	77.2	423.0	76.8	369.0	< 50%			86.2	58.3	416.0	≥ 50%	92.9	< 50%								85.6	45.5	64.3	471.0										≥ 50%	87.1	52.6	< 50%	≥ 50%			< 50%	382.0	≥ 50%		42.6	≥ 50%		< 50%						$9,864	$463	$9,401
Alleghany High	Public	9-12	210 Mountaineer Drive	Covington	24426	Covington city	Alleghany Highlands Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 863-1700	818	60	13.6	81.8%	666 (81.4%)	58 (7.1%)	44 (5.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (5.7%)	28.6	288^th of 331 public high schools	13.0%		26.8	296^th of 328 public high schools	9.8%	8	360.0	67.7	53.7	87.5	< 50%	369.0	< 50%		71.5	50.9	56.3	386.0		< 50%		< 50%					≥ 50%	340.0	62.5	386.0	64.7		85.1	373.0	371.0	354.0				< 50%	389.0	81.6	51.2	384.0	362.0	< 50%	< 50%	< 50%	357.0	369.0		27.3	< 50%	< 50%		< 50%	354.0		< 50%		$9,060	$716	$8,344
William Byrd High	Public	9-12	2902 Washington Ave	Vinton	24179	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 890-3090	1,134	73	15.4	37.7%	890 (78.5%)	69 (6.1%)	97 (8.6%)	20 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (5.0%)	59.7	146^th of 331 public high schools	55.9%		65.9	112^th of 328 public high schools	65.9%	34				88.0	379.0				85.0	413.0	413.0	437.0	100.0	≥ 50%	< 50%						< 50%	50.0	71.1	424.0	≥ 50%		81.6	425.0	< 50%	≥ 50%					382.0	83.4	474.0					< 50%	388.0			86.5	406.0	≥ 50%		≥ 50%	360.0	< 50%			$10,163	$224	$9,940
Craig County High	Public	6-12	25239 Craigs Creek Road	New Castle	24127	Craig County	Craig County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 864-5185	278	27	10.2	81.3%	273 (98.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	49.4	201^st of 331 public high schools	39.3%		64	121^st of 328 public high schools	63.1%	80	73.5			76.5	< 50%			94.1	397.0	422.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%				63.6	40.0	23.8				72.7	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	66.7	402.0	≥ 50%	< 50%		63.6	62.5	76.9			80.0						< 50%	388.0		63.2	≥ 50%		< 50%	≥ 50%		≥ 50%			61.5	$11,207	$590	$10,617

Frequently Asked Questions about James River High

What district is James River High in?

Botetourt County Public Schools

What schools feed into James River High?

James River High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Breckinridge Elementary
Elementary : Buchanan Elementary
Elementary : Eagle Rock Elementary
Middle : Central Academy Middle

What is the racial makeup of James River High?

Students at James River High are 92% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Is James River High a good school?

Yes. James River High ranks in the top 6.6% of Virginia high schools.

How many students attend James River High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 464 students attended James River High.

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Schools in Buchanan, 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.