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McCleary Elementary

Q: Is McCleary Elementary a good school?

McCleary Elementary ranks 695 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

695^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

McCleary Elementary is a small, rural PK–5 school in New Castle, Virginia, serving 229 students as part of Craig County Public Schools. For 2025–2026, the school holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 37th percentile among Virginia elementary schools — above its district's overall 27th-percentile standing, but below most neighboring schools in Botetourt County Public Schools, Roanoke County Public Schools, and Salem City Public Schools, which typically rank in the 65th–92nd percentile.

McCleary's most distinctive strength is its performance with economically disadvantaged students. With 81.2% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, the school serves a far higher poverty rate than schools like Cloverdale Elementary or West Salem Elementary (both around 33–36%). Yet its low-income students rank in the 65th percentile statewide — a reminder, especially when compared with high-poverty schools like Westside Elementary in Roanoke, that poverty doesn't determine outcomes. Early-grade math is another highlight (82.1% proficient in 3rd grade, 80.0% in 4th, both above state averages), and chronic absenteeism has fallen sharply from 46.2% in 2021–2022 to 13.3% in 2024–2025, now below both state and district averages.

The school's biggest challenge is a persistent 5th-grade drop-off. While 3rd- and 4th-grade math and 4th-grade reading beat state averages, 5th-grade scores fall short in math (56.3% vs. 72.4%), reading (59.4% vs. 72.4%), and science (56.3% vs. 68.8%). Subgroup results are also uneven, with economically disadvantaged students performing much stronger than other groups relative to statewide peer comparisons. Still, with a low student-teacher ratio of 11.4, moderate per-pupil spending ($11,457), and major attendance gains, the school has solid foundations to build on — making the 5th-grade transition the clearest lever for improvement.

229

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,457

Per pupil spending ?

81.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

25345 Craigs Creek Road
New Castle, VA 24127

(540) 864-5173

District: Craig County Public Schools

Students who attend McCleary Elementary usually attend:

High:

Craig County High

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.7%

Hispanic:

0.9%

African American:

0.4%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare McCleary Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 14th percentile in 2023 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 37th (2026) from a 14th-percentile low (2023)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!Science scores 12 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg68%

Virginia avg72%

695^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

96^th of 131Craig 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	43.5	695 of 1111	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.5	670 of 1110	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.5	776 of 1114	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	17.9	955 of 1114	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.2	760 of 1109	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.5	755 of 1103	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.4	791 of 1105	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.8	903 of 1097	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	47.2	662 of 1099	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	58.9	472 of 1096	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.9	470 of 1100	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	65.0	362 of 1110	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.5	345 of 1120	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	44.7	707 of 1117	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	62.8	398 of 1117	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	59.2	463 of 1113	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	14.8	1045 of 1082	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	28.5	917 of 1081	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.7	899 of 1083	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	49.1	628 of 1071	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	33.8	826 of 1062	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	49.2	612 of 1100	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.2	588 of 1096	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.2	811 of 1098	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	991 of 1100	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	62.6	360 of 1040	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.5	523 of 1046	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.7	468 of 1036	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	57.0	511 of 1099	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.3	683 of 1093	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.2	680 of 1101	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.1	844 of 1093	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	19.5	873 of 974	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.4	812 of 973	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.9	917 of 979	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.0	975 of 984	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)65th percentile+28 vs school

Male (2026)54th percentile+16 vs school

Female (2026)44th percentile+7 vs school

White (2026)10th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics73%~ state avg

VA Studies69%~ state avg

English Reading67%-4 vs state

Science56%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near McCleary 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 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 Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McCleary Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	25345 Craigs Creek Road	New Castle	24127	Craig County	Craig County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 864-5173	229	20	11.4	81.2%	226 (98.7%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.5	695^th of 1111 public elementary schools	37.4%		44.5	670^th of 1110 public elementary schools	39.6%	25	82.1	80.0	56.3	56.3	60.7	78.4	59.4	69.4	$11,457	$1,157	$10,300
Mason's Cove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3370 Bradshaw Rd	Salem	24153	Salem city	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 387-6530	204	22	9.4	69.6%	179 (87.7%)	6 (2.9%)	6 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.9%)	66.8	392^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	64.7%		75.5	280^th of 1110 public elementary schools	74.8%	112	90.3	78.8	80.0	68.6	74.2	84.9	77.1	72.7	$15,752	$1,299	$14,453
Greenfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	288 Etzler Rd	Troutville	24175	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 992-4416	435	30	14.5	35.9%	316 (72.6%)	10 (2.3%)	81 (18.6%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	19 (4.4%)	71.7	326^th of 1111 public elementary schools	70.7%		72.7	313^th of 1110 public elementary schools	71.8%	13	79.2	86.8	83.3	79.6	68.1	81.9	83.3	82.3	$11,359	$1,112	$10,248
Breckinridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	331 Springwood Rd	Fincastle	24090	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 473-8386	211	18	11.9	36.5%	184 (87.2%)	7 (3.3%)	8 (3.8%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.7%)	67.7	377^th of 1111 public elementary schools	66.1%		78.5	240^th of 1110 public elementary schools	78.4%	137	73.0	79.4	76.3	81.6	75.7	79.4	81.6	82.4	$13,991	$828	$13,163
Burlington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6533 Peters Creek Rd	Roanoke	24019	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 561-8165	530	37	14.5	90.0%	198 (37.4%)	107 (20.2%)	144 (27.2%)	31 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (9.4%)	48.5	625^th of 1111 public elementary schools	43.7%		48.8	619^th of 1110 public elementary schools	44.2%	6	76.8	80.0	75.3	63.6	65.2	70.8	59.0	77.8	$10,806	$1,207	$9,600
Glen Cove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5901 Cove Rd	Roanoke	24019	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 561-8135	425	30	14.4	67.5%	263 (61.9%)	63 (14.8%)	47 (11.1%)	19 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.8%)	82	174^th of 1111 public elementary schools	84.3%		81.1	194^th of 1110 public elementary schools	82.5%	20	86.8	79.7	88.7	87.1	83.8	83.1	90.5	87.3	$10,189	$481	$9,708
Troutville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12 Barron Dr	Troutville	24175	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 992-1871	247	21	11.9	33.2%	214 (86.6%)	3 (1.2%)	12 (4.9%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.3%)	84.7	130^th of 1111 public elementary schools	88.3%		84	145^th of 1110 public elementary schools	86.9%	15	92.5	96.8	80.0	72.5	92.5	93.6	90.0	100.0	$11,254	$616	$10,638
Cloverdale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	833 Cougar Drive	Cloverdale	24077	Botetourt County	Botetourt County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 992-1086	234	19	12.4	32.9%	197 (84.2%)	6 (2.6%)	11 (4.7%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (6.0%)	87.1	91^st of 1111 public elementary schools	91.8%		78.9	233^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	79.0%	142	85.7	88.9	92.5	87.5	88.1	91.7	97.5	83.3	$11,850	$1,183	$10,666
Mountain View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5901 Plantation Circle	Roanoke	24019	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 561-8175	377	32	11.9	71.9%	221 (58.6%)	51 (13.5%)	46 (12.2%)	15 (4.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (11.1%)	73.1	303^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	72.7%		61.8	456^th of 1110 public elementary schools	58.9%	153	82.8	75.4	85.3	83.6	76.6	79.0	82.0	84.3	$13,687	$1,237	$12,450
West Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	520 N Bruffey St	Salem	24153	Salem city	Salem City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 387-2503	375	27	13.7	35.5%	296 (78.9%)	24 (6.4%)	26 (6.9%)	12 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.5%)	70.7	342^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	69.2%		72.2	323^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	70.9%	19	87.3	87.0	77.2	64.9	72.7	87.0	75.4	87.9	$10,591	$289	$10,302

Frequently Asked Questions about McCleary Elementary

What district is McCleary Elementary in?

Craig County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of McCleary Elementary attend?

Students who attend McCleary Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Craig County High

Is McCleary Elementary a good school?

McCleary Elementary ranks 695^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend McCleary Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 229 students attended McCleary Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of McCleary Elementary?

Students at McCleary Elementary are 99% White.

Rate McCleary Elementary!

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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.