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Southside Elementary

Q: Is Southside Elementary a good school?

Southside Elementary ranks 265 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

265^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Southside Elementary is a PK–5 school in Blairs, VA, serving 428 students as part of Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The school serves a high-poverty population — 83.6% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch — yet it consistently posts some of the strongest academic results in the region. From 2021–22 through 2024–25, Southside Elementary ranked in the 90th percentile or higher statewide, and while it slipped to the 76th percentile in 2025–26, it still earned a 4-star rating.

One of the school's most impressive achievements is its remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate: just 3.9% in 2024–25, compared to 14.3% for the district and 14.8% statewide. This represents a dramatic turnaround from 15.4% two years earlier. Southside Elementary's upper-grade students also deliver standout test scores — 4th graders posted 100% proficiency in math and 98.3% in reading in 2025–26, while 5th graders reached 92.9% in math and 90.0% in reading. Low-income students rank in the 96th percentile statewide, a remarkable achievement for a school where more than 8 in 10 students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

Southside Elementary currently holds the top ranking among nearby Pittsylvania County elementary schools, edging out Union Hall Elementary, Twin Springs Elementary, Kentuck Elementary, and Chatham Elementary. The contrast with Danville City Public Schools is even starker — Southside Elementary outperforms every Danville City elementary in the area, including Forest Hills Elementary, Woodberry Hills Elementary, Park Avenue Elementary, Schoolfield Elementary, and Edwin A. Gibson Elementary, by wide margins in 4th grade math. The one area to watch is 3rd grade, where proficiency dropped below state averages in 2025–26 after several strong years. If those scores rebound, Southside Elementary could easily return to the top decile.

428

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,453

Per pupil spending ?

83.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

440 East Witt Rd
Blairs, VA 24527

(434) 836-0006

District: Pittsylvania County Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.6%

African American:

30.8%

Two or more races:

4.7%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Southside Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (85% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Virginia elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school85%

District avg78%

Virginia avg72%

265^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 10Elementary Schools in the Pittsylvania County Public Schools

23^rd of 131Pittsylvania 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	76.5	265 of 1111	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	87.8	77 of 1110	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	85.5	111 of 1114	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	86.4	103 of 1114	90.8%	★★★★★
2022	86.5	111 of 1109	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	70.6	333 of 1103	69.8%	★★★★☆
2019	79.5	174 of 1105	84.3%	★★★★☆
2018	70.9	301 of 1097	72.6%	★★★★☆
2017	68.7	331 of 1099	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	76.8	196 of 1096	82.1%	★★★★☆
2015	64.8	390 of 1100	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.2	412 of 1110	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.5	389 of 1120	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	53.8	559 of 1117	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	42.6	750 of 1117	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.5	695 of 1113	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	43.2	739 of 1082	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.6	767 of 1081	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.8	710 of 1083	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.2	666 of 1071	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	38.5	769 of 1062	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	71.4	141 of 591	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	85.0	48 of 579	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.3	39 of 588	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	88.6	34 of 579	94.1%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	66.8	93 of 324	71.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.6	284 of 1100	74.2%	★★★★☆
2025	88.2	60 of 1096	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	81.5	159 of 1098	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	78 of 1100	92.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	89.3	41 of 1040	96.1%	★★★★★
2025	95.3	7 of 1046	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	89.5	38 of 1036	96.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	79.2	190 of 1099	82.7%	★★★★☆
2025	84.2	117 of 1093	89.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.9	89 of 1101	91.9%	★★★★★
2023	84.0	128 of 1093	88.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	77.1	165 of 974	83.1%	★★★★☆
2025	83.6	78 of 973	92.0%	★★★★★
2024	80.8	111 of 979	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	81.7	93 of 984	90.5%	★★★★★

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)96th percentile+20 vs school

White (2026)83rd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)83rd percentile+7 vs school

African American (2026)76th percentile~ school

Female (2026)74th percentile~ school

Disabled (2023)71st percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies88%+17 vs state

Mathematics87%+14 vs state

English Reading84%+13 vs state

Science83%+14 vs state

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Schools Near Southside 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
Southside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	440 East Witt Rd	Blairs	24527	Pittsylvania County	Pittsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 836-0006	428	33	12.9	83.6%	255 (59.6%)	132 (30.8%)	19 (4.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.7%)	76.5	265^th of 1111 public elementary schools	76.1%		87.8	77^th of 1110 public elementary schools	93.1%	188	67.2	100.0	92.9	82.6	62.1	98.3	90.0	87.9	$9,453	$954	$8,499
Twin Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Twin Springs Elem Cir	Danville	24540	Danville city	Pittsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 724-2666	618	41	15.0	84.1%	412 (66.7%)	128 (20.7%)	46 (7.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (4.7%)	71.3	334^th of 1111 public elementary schools	69.9%		77.9	248^th of 1110 public elementary schools	77.7%	86	86.5	83.6	78.9	73.3	77.5	82.7	80.0	77.3	$7,363	$609	$6,754
Kentuck Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Kentuck Elementary Cir	Ringgold	24586	Pittsylvania County	Pittsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 822-5944	478	34	14.0	87.2%	315 (65.9%)	113 (23.6%)	25 (5.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.8%)	67.1	388^th of 1111 public elementary schools	65.1%		68	375^th of 1110 public elementary schools	66.2%	13	92.3	82.6	81.0	74.1	83.3	76.7	79.3	61.6	$8,961	$937	$8,024
Arnett Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	811 Northmont Blvd	Danville	24540	Danville city	Danville City Public Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(434) 354-0112	0																		(n/a)	51.9	37.4	31.3	31.3	50.6	44.1	45.2	32.1
Woodberry Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	614 Audubon Dr	Danville	24540	Danville city	Danville City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 799-6466	377	31	12.1	92.3%	35 (9.3%)	291 (77.2%)	32 (8.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.2%)	24.8	899^th of 1111 public elementary schools	19.1%		11.8	1011^th of 1110 public elementary schools	8.9%	112	75.5	59.6	67.4	40.8	60.4	66.7	51.0	37.0	$13,124	$3,289	$9,834
Forest Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	155 Mountain View Ave	Danville	24541	Danville city	Danville City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 799-6430	200	17	11.7	90.0%	60 (30.0%)	95 (47.5%)	32 (16.0%)	4 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.5%)	56.8	528^th of 1111 public elementary schools	52.5%		60.9	466^th of 1110 public elementary schools	58.0%	62	88.0	83.8	75.0	69.4	88.0	73.0	69.4	56.8	$15,325	$3,066	$12,259
Park Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	661 Park Ave	Danville	24541	Danville city	Danville City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 799-6452	361	30	12.0	95.0%	60 (16.6%)	208 (57.6%)	67 (18.6%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.1%)	23.8	910^th of 1111 public elementary schools	18.1%		15.7	975^th of 1110 public elementary schools	12.2%	65	69.6	54.6	60.7	62.3	67.4	54.6	60.0	36.4	$13,247	$3,038	$10,209
Edwin A. Gibson Elementary	Public	K-5	1215 Industrial Avenue	Danville	24541	Danville city	Danville City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 799-6426	466	33	14.1	94.8%	45 (9.7%)	331 (71.0%)	64 (13.7%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.9%)	3.9	1083^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	2.5%		1.3	1104^th of 1110 public elementary schools	0.5%	21	42.7	39.4	35.9	29.5	50.8	47.9	47.4	39.4	$11,453	$2,426	$9,027
Schoolfield Elementary	Public	K-5	1400 W Main St	Danville	24541	Danville city	Danville City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 799-6455	516	39	13.2	103.1%	84 (16.3%)	305 (59.1%)	84 (16.3%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.4%)	15.2	986^th of 1111 public elementary schools	11.3%		11.6	1012^th of 1110 public elementary schools	8.8%	26	73.8	42.1	43.4	43.4	62.5	54.6	55.4	24.7	$11,749	$2,679	$9,070
Union Hall Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Union Hall Cir	Chatham	24531	Pittsylvania County	Pittsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 724-7010	183	17	10.7	85.8%	129 (70.5%)	34 (18.6%)	10 (5.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.9%)	75	278^th of 1111 public elementary schools	75.0%		94.3	8^th of 1110 public elementary schools	99.3%	270	73.0	90.0	100.0	96.3	59.5	90.0	88.9	93.3	$12,311	$1,665	$10,646

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Elementary

How many students attend Southside Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 428 students attended Southside Elementary.

What district is Southside Elementary in?

Pittsylvania County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Southside Elementary?

Students at Southside Elementary are 60% White, 31% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

Is Southside Elementary a good school?

Southside Elementary ranks 265^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Southside Elementary!

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Schools in Blairs, 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.