Highland High

Highland High in Monterey, Virginia, is a small combined middle/high school serving just 103 students in grades 6 through 12 as part of Highland County Public Schools, a rural district with no other schools within 20 miles. The school's graduation rate has been a standout achievement, hitting 100% in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 compared to a state average of about 92-93%, and the dropout rate has been 0% in both years.

Math performance in middle school is especially strong, with 6th grade proficiency reaching 87.5% in 2025-26 versus 63.2% statewide, and 7th grade math beating the state by 20 to 40 percentage points in recent years. Social studies is another clear strength, with geography at 100% proficiency in 2024-25 and civics at 88.2% in 2025-26 versus 70.1% statewide. The school also posted elite junior-year results in 2024-25, with 100% proficiency in reading, writing, and geometry. With a student-teacher ratio of about 6.7 to 1 and per-pupil spending near $17,724, students benefit from very small classes and significant per-student investment.

However, there are real challenges. Chronic absenteeism has hovered around 28-37% in recent years—roughly double the state average—and represents the most visible obstacle to even better outcomes. The school's state ranking is also highly volatile due to tiny cohorts, jumping from #2 in Virginia in 2024-25 to #190 in 2025-26, a pattern typical of very small schools where one strong or weak class can swing results dramatically. Middle-grade reading has been inconsistent compared to state averages, and biology proficiency has sometimes lagged behind. Overall, Highland High offers a small, tight-knit learning environment with strong graduation outcomes and academic peaks that rank among the best in Virginia, though families should be aware of attendance challenges and year-to-year variability.