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Central High

Public Grades 9-12

7^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 328 Virginia High Schools

Better than 98% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Central High is a public high school located in Norton, Virginia, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 663 students. The school is part of the Wise County Public Schools district, which is ranked 3 out of 129 districts in Virginia and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Central High has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in Virginia, with a current statewide ranking of 7 out of 328 schools and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High consistently outperforms the state and district averages in standardized test scores across various subjects, including Writing, Algebra, Biology, English Reading, and World History. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Central High's proficiency rates were significantly higher than the state and district averages in Algebra I (97.17% vs. 80.65% and 93.82%), Algebra II (95.83% vs. 93.75% and 95.65%), and Biology (90.96% vs. 70.86% and 87.24%). The school has also maintained high graduation rates, ranging from 91.9% to 99.3% over the past few years, which are consistently higher than the state and district averages.

While Central High outperforms the state and district averages, the nearby schools in the Wise County Public Schools district, such as Union High and Eastside High, also demonstrate strong academic performance, with rankings and test scores that are generally competitive with Central High. This suggests a high level of educational quality across the district. Additionally, despite the high percentage of low-socioeconomic status (SES) students at Central High, the school has been able to overcome these challenges and maintain its position as one of the top-performing high schools in Virginia.

676

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,877

Per pupil spending ?

90.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5000 Warrior Drive
Norton, VA 24273

(276) 328-8015

District: Wise County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Central High:

Elementary:	Coeburn Primary
	J.W. Adams Combined
	St. Paul Elementary
	Union Primary
	More...
	Wise Primary
Middle:	Coeburn Middle
	L.F. Addington Middle
	Union Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.2%

Hispanic:

2.4%

Two or more races:

1.9%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2015 → 98th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (91% vs 80% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Virginia high schools

✓99% graduate in 4 years — above the Virginia average (92%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school91%

District avg88%

Virginia avg80%

7^th of 328

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 2%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High Schools in the Wise County Public Schools

3^rd of 129Wise 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
2025	83.4	7 of 328	97.9%	★★★★★
2024	83.3	10 of 329	97.0%	★★★★★
2023	80.9	16 of 326	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	73.4	30 of 325	90.8%	★★★★★
2021	79.9	9 of 327	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	73.0	28 of 327	91.4%	★★★★★
2018	76.7	12 of 326	96.3%	★★★★★
2017	78.5	9 of 324	97.2%	★★★★★
2016	80.6	6 of 321	98.1%	★★★★★
2015	81.4	4 of 322	98.8%	★★★★★
2014	76.7	25 of 322	92.2%	★★★★★
2013	72.4	44 of 321	86.3%	★★★★☆
2012	64.6	63 of 321	80.4%	★★★★☆
2011	63.3	79 of 320	75.3%	★★★★☆
2010	61.4	85 of 317	73.2%	★★★★☆
2009	59.9	96 of 313	69.3%	★★★★☆
2008	57.7	108 of 316	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	48.0	160 of 313	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	69.1	39 of 314	87.6%	★★★★☆
2005	59.7	80 of 308	74.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	85.9	16 of 253	93.7%	★★★★★
2023	83.8	15 of 249	94.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	83.1	11 of 321	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	85.0	7 of 322	97.8%	★★★★★
2023	86.8	4 of 320	98.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	90.2	6 of 324	98.1%	★★★★★
2024	87.3	12 of 320	96.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	82.6	17 of 322	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	82.9	17 of 322	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	73.1	66 of 321	79.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	32 of 313	89.8%	★★★★★
2024	75.4	29 of 314	90.8%	★★★★★
2023	71.1	51 of 315	83.8%	★★★★☆

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)98th percentile~ school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

Male (2025)95th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2024)94th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)90th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I97%+17 vs state

Algebra II96%~ state avg

English Reading94%+6 vs state

Writing92%+12 vs state

Biology91%+20 vs state

World History I84%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Writing (2025)	SOL Geometry (2025)	SOL Algebra I (2025)			SOL Algebra II (2025)	SOL Mathematics (2025)	SOL Biology (2025)	SOL Science (2025)	SOL Earth Science (2025)	SOL English Reading (2025)		SOL Geography (2025)		SOL VA and US History (2025)	SOL World History I (2025)		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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL Geography 8th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High	Public	9-12	5000 Warrior Drive	Norton	24273	Wise County	Wise County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 328-8015	676	41	16.5	90.7%	630 (93.2%)	9 (1.3%)	16 (2.4%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	13 (1.9%)	83.4	7^th of 328 public high schools	97.9%		83.3	10^th of 329 public high schools	97.0%	3	91.7			97.2		95.8		91.0				93.5				83.6		$7,877	$238	$7,639
J.I. Burton High	Public	8-12	109 11th St	Norton	24273	Norton city	Norton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 679-2554	328	24	13.6	99.1%	283 (86.3%)	15 (4.6%)	9 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.1%)	61.2	138^th of 328 public high schools	57.9%		73.4	62^nd of 329 public high schools	81.2%	76	73.8	100.0	100.0	91.8			76.3	85.5	64.2	80.3	77.8	88.7	83.3			47.5		$10,666	$00	$10,666
Eastside High	Public	9-12	314 School House Hill Dr	Coeburn	24230	Wise County	Wise County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 395-3389	418	26	15.8	88.3%	402 (96.2%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.9%)	66.6	109^th of 328 public high schools	66.8%		75.8	49^th of 329 public high schools	85.1%	60	96.5	97.1		95.8	53.9			80.9				86.9		58.3		64.8		$10,913	$26	$10,887
Union High	Public	9-12	322 Powell Valley Road	Big Stone Gap	24219	Wise County	Wise County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 523-1290	564	37	15.1	90.6%	512 (90.8%)	24 (4.3%)	12 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.8%)	75.8	51^st of 328 public high schools	84.5%		74.8	55^th of 329 public high schools	83.3%	4	96.0			88.7		95.5		86.5				89.3				80.1		$9,170	$04	$9,166
Twin Springs High	Public	8-12	273 Titan Lane	Nickelsville	24271	Scott County	Scott County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 479-2185	242	24	9.9	78.5%	221 (91.3%)	2 (0.8%)	15 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)	71.6	79^th of 328 public high schools	75.9%		69.1	93^rd of 329 public high schools	71.7%	14				95.5			59.3	92.3	60.4	88.0	64.8	84.6		81.4				$11,901	$796	$11,105
Rye Cove High	Public	8-12	164 Eagles Nest Lane	Duffield	24244	Scott County	Scott County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 940-2701	292	25	11.7	78.4%	272 (93.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	61.3	137^th of 328 public high schools	58.2%		73.4	63^rd of 329 public high schools	80.9%	74				88.0			69.8	76.6	69.1		70.9	92.9		64.0				$9,541	$635	$8,906
Ridgeview High	Public	9-12	310 Wolfpack Way	Clintwood	24228	Dickenson County	Dickenson County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 835-1600	548	56	9.8	97.8%	528 (96.4%)	9 (1.6%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	56.9	164^th of 328 public high schools	50.0%		64.6	121^st of 329 public high schools	63.2%	43		84.9		91.4				80.4				84.0		52.6	40.7	64.2	53.9	$13,618	$339	$13,279
Castlewood High	Public	8-12	304 Blue Devil Circle	Castlewood	24224	Russell County	Russell County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 762-9449	285	19	14.9	91.2%	275 (96.5%)	3 (1.1%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	54.6	171^st of 328 public high schools	47.9%		46.3	220^th of 329 public high schools	33.1%	49		69.8	86.0					72.7	65.3	95.9	61.2	86.9	70.6					$9,509	$659	$8,850

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High

How many students attend Central High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 676 students attended Central High.

What schools feed into Central High?

Central High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Coeburn Primary
Elementary : J.W. Adams Combined
Elementary : St. Paul Elementary
Elementary : Union Primary
Elementary : Wise Primary
Middle : Coeburn Middle
Middle : L.F. Addington Middle
Middle : Union Middle

Is Central High a good school?

Yes! Central High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 7^th of 328 Virginia high schools.

What district is Central High in?

Wise County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Central High?

Students at Central High are 93% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

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VAVirginia High School Rankings

VAVirginia District Rankings

Schools in Norton, VA

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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.