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Chilhowie Elementary

Q: Is Chilhowie Elementary a good school?

Chilhowie Elementary ranks 314 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

314^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Chilhowie Elementary, a PK-5 school in the small town of Chilhowie, Virginia, serves 589 students and is part of Smyth County Public Schools, a district rated in the 87th percentile statewide.

The school's biggest headline is its dramatic turnaround. As recently as 2020-21, Chilhowie ranked in the bottom quarter of Virginia elementary schools, but by 2024-25 it had climbed to the 80th percentile (4 stars). This is especially remarkable given that nearly all of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch — yet the school's low-income students have ranked in the 91st–93rd percentile statewide for two consecutive years. Math and science are standout subjects: 5th grade math proficiency hit 91% in 2024-25 versus about 72% statewide. The school also achieves these results efficiently, spending $8,497 per student — the least of any Smyth County elementary school — while outperforming neighbors like Atkins Elementary and Oak Point Elementary, which spend thousands more per student.

The main area for growth is 3rd grade reading, which sat near the state average (about 68%) in 2025-26 but lagged the district by roughly 8 points — even though 4th and 5th grade reading remain comfortably above state averages. Chronic absenteeism has improved from 21.9% to 15.3%, but still trails nearby Saltville Elementary (10.4%) and Rich Valley Elementary (10.6%). A slight dip in 2025-26 — from the 80th to 72nd percentile — driven partly by lower 3rd grade reading, is worth watching. If the school can close the early-literacy gap and continue improving attendance, it is well-positioned to return to the top quartile.

589

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,497

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

130 East Lee Hwy
Chilhowie, VA 24319

(276) 646-8220

District: Smyth County Public Schools

Students who attend Chilhowie Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Chilhowie Middle
High:	Chilhowie High

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.0%

Hispanic:

4.4%

African American:

2.9%

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Compare Chilhowie Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 24th percentile in 2016 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (81% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 48 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Virginia median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school81%

District avg80%

Virginia avg72%

314^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 48 pts since 2016

From bottom 24% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 7Elementary Schools in the Smyth County Public Schools

17^th of 131Smyth 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	72.4	314 of 1111	71.7%	★★★★☆
2025	79.8	218 of 1110	80.4%	★★★★☆
2024	79.2	226 of 1114	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	63.1	428 of 1114	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.1	744 of 1109	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.7	848 of 1103	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.0	849 of 1105	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.1	799 of 1097	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.8	872 of 1099	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.5	835 of 1096	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	40.3	764 of 1100	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.6	775 of 1110	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.7	721 of 1120	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.1	888 of 1117	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.4	999 of 1117	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	43.6	773 of 1113	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.8	805 of 1082	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	43.4	725 of 1081	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	27.0	933 of 1083	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	40.5	758 of 1071	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	34.2	820 of 1062	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.2	73 of 420	82.6%	★★★★☆
2024	67.1	109 of 355	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.5	123 of 324	62.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	66.4	386 of 1100	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.1	288 of 1096	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	71.8	316 of 1098	71.2%	★★★★☆
2023	57.7	492 of 1100	55.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	84.4	89 of 1046	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	84.5	72 of 1036	93.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	74.1	273 of 1099	75.2%	★★★★☆
2025	82.9	143 of 1093	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	82.7	143 of 1101	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	64.7	388 of 1093	64.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	50.0	538 of 974	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	61.1	405 of 973	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.4	386 of 979	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.6	666 of 984	32.3%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2025)91st percentile+11 vs school

Disabled (2026)83rd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)75th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)65th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)45th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies85%+14 vs state

Mathematics84%+10 vs state

Science80%+11 vs state

English Reading77%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Chilhowie 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
Chilhowie Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	130 East Lee Hwy	Chilhowie	24319	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 646-8220	589	41	14.4	100.0%	536 (91.0%)	17 (2.9%)	26 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	72.4	314^th of 1111 public elementary schools	71.7%		79.8	218^th of 1110 public elementary schools	80.4%	96	81.1	85.0	84.5	79.6	67.8	83.8	80.6	84.6	$8,497	$1,350	$7,146
Oak Point Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	138 Oak Point Dr	Marion	24354	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 783-2609	352	31	11.3	118.2%	331 (94.0%)	8 (2.3%)	7 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.4%)	60.6	467^th of 1111 public elementary schools	58.0%		27.2	860^th of 1110 public elementary schools	22.5%	393	81.6	71.7	76.5	76.5	81.6	69.6	80.4	68.9	$12,216	$1,764	$10,452
Saltville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1013 E Main St	Saltville	24370	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 496-4751	189	16	11.5	101.6%	173 (91.5%)	3 (1.6%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.2%)	90.6	37^th of 1111 public elementary schools	96.7%		89.8	53^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	95.2%	16	94.3	90.9	100.0	95.0	82.9	100.0	90.0	90.9	$12,996	$1,838	$11,157
Rich Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	196 Long Hollow Rd	Saltville	24370	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 624-3314	126	11	11.3	101.6%	124 (98.4%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	79.1	213^th of 1111 public elementary schools	80.8%		83.5	154^th of 1110 public elementary schools	86.1%	59	65.0	88.2	100.0	91.7	85.0	94.1	83.3	93.8	$12,975	$2,582	$10,393
Smyth County Virtual	Public, Virtual	K-2	121 Bagley Circle	Marion	24354	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(276) 783-3791	339	20	16.9		132 (38.9%)	102 (30.1%)	49 (14.5%)	9 (2.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (13.0%)								(n/a)
Marion Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	188 Star Mountain Dr	Marion	24354	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 783-3021	298	22	13.7	100.3%	264 (88.6%)	17 (5.7%)	9 (3.0%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	69.2	360^th of 1111 public elementary schools	67.6%		65.7	407^th of 1110 public elementary schools	63.3%	47	84.3	81.0	81.8	70.5	82.4	84.5	70.5	77.6	$9,863	$1,490	$8,374
Meadowview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	14050 Glenbrook Ave	Meadowview	24361	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 739-3900	544	42	13.1	75.2%	515 (94.7%)	5 (0.9%)	16 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)	65.5	404^th of 1111 public elementary schools	63.6%		67.4	385^th of 1110 public elementary schools	65.3%	19	74.7	88.7	80.9	62.9	73.6	81.4	77.5	81.3	$10,933	$2,024	$8,910
Rhea Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	31305 Rhea Valley Rd	Meadowview	24361	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 739-4200	404	35	11.7	76.0%	389 (96.3%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	69.9	351^st of 1111 public elementary schools	68.4%		66.6	399^th of 1110 public elementary schools	64.1%	48	86.8	82.0	76.8	67.9	79.3	85.3	75.0	83.6	$11,049	$1,780	$9,269
Sugar Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	242 Teas Rd	Sugar Grove	24375	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 677-3311	88	11	8.1	95.5%	85 (96.6%)	2 (2.3%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72.1	319^th of 1111 public elementary schools	71.3%		64.5	429^th of 1110 public elementary schools	61.4%	110	87.5	76.9	84.6	76.9	87.5	84.6	84.6	61.5	$15,481	$3,472	$12,008
Atkins Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5903 Lee Hwy	Atkins	24311	Smyth County	Smyth County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 783-3366	168	17	9.7	99.4%	156 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	52.9	581^st of 1111 public elementary schools	47.7%		58.7	496^th of 1110 public elementary schools	55.3%	85	80.0	65.4	66.7	70.8	64.0	73.1	83.3	76.0	$10,733	$1,670	$9,063

Frequently Asked Questions about Chilhowie Elementary

Is Chilhowie Elementary a good school?

Chilhowie Elementary ranks 314^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Chilhowie Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 589 students attended Chilhowie Elementary.

What district is Chilhowie Elementary in?

Smyth County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Chilhowie Elementary attend?

Students who attend Chilhowie Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Chilhowie Middle
High : Chilhowie High

What is the racial makeup of Chilhowie Elementary?

Students at Chilhowie Elementary are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% African American.

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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.