Summary
Highland Elementary is a small, rural PK-5 school in Monterey, Virginia, serving 105 students and operating as the sole elementary school within the Highland County Public Schools district. Because it is the district's only elementary school, its test scores mirror the district's, and with no other schools within 20 miles, there are no nearby schools for comparison — so results are measured against Virginia averages. The school currently holds a 2-star rating, ranking 626th out of 1,111 elementary schools at the 44th percentile, but its ranking has been volatile, reaching as high as the 89th percentile in 2018-2019.
The most encouraging news is in reading and attendance. Reading proficiency exceeded the state average in every tested grade, with 3rd grade standing out at 75% proficient versus the state's 67.61%. Chronic absenteeism has also improved dramatically, dropping from 29.9% in 2022-2023 to 12.6% in 2024-2025 — below both the state average of 14.8% and the district's 21.4%. The school also maintains a low student-teacher ratio of about 10.5 to 1 and spends roughly $14,111 per pupil, reflecting significant resources devoted to a small student body.
Mathematics, however, is the main area of concern. In the most recent year, 4th and 5th grade math scores fell below state averages, with 4th grade math at just 58.82% proficiency versus Virginia's 73.29%. That is a clear decline from earlier years and the school's biggest academic vulnerability. It is also a reminder that high spending does not automatically translate into top rankings; the school's current 44th percentile standing suggests its challenges are about more than resources. Female students currently rank at the 51st percentile statewide, while male students sit at the 42nd percentile. About 48% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet reading remains above state averages. For parents, the key takeaway is that Highland Elementary provides a small, well-resourced environment with strong reading and improving attendance, but families should watch math performance closely — and remember that year-to-year swings are typical for a school this size.
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