Hurley High

Hurley High is a small, rural public school in Hurley, Virginia, serving 194 students in grades 8 through 12 as part of Buchanan County Public Schools. Despite the fact that about 97% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, Hurley has become a local academic standout. It consistently beats nearby Twin Valley High and Grundy High on statewide rankings—in 2025-26, Hurley ranked 123rd out of 331 Virginia high schools (63rd percentile, 3 stars), while Twin Valley ranked 299th and Grundy 293rd. In fact, Hurley has ranked as high as 23rd statewide as recently as 2023-24.

Hurley's most impressive numbers are its graduation and attendance rates. The school posted a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate in 2024-25, compared to 94.9% and 2.5% for the district and 92.3% and 5.0% statewide. Chronic absenteeism sits at just 12.0%, well below the district's 21.4% and Grundy's 25.3%. Academically, Hurley shines in 11th-grade reading (92.1% proficient) and writing (85.4%), both above state averages, and in Algebra I (89.7% proficient vs. 80.2% statewide). The school's results for economically disadvantaged students are especially strong, with that subgroup earning a 4-star ranking (86th percentile) in 2025-26 after two straight years of 5-star rankings.

There are a couple of areas worth monitoring. Hurley's 8th-grade reading proficiency (68.6%) trails the state average of 73.5%, and its 8th-grade math (47.9%) only slightly exceeds the state's 46.9%. Also, a gender gap has emerged: female students ranked in the 87th percentile statewide in 2025-26, while male students fell to the 37th percentile. With roughly 194 students spread across five grade levels, small cohort sizes mean year-to-year results can fluctuate. Overall, though, Hurley is producing strong outcomes without the highest spending in the area—about $8,555 per student—making it a school that clearly punches above its weight.