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Central High

Q: Is Central High a good school?

Yes! Central High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 4 th of 331 Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Central High?

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

Q: 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.

Q: 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

Public Grades 9-12

4^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 99% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Central High in Norton, Virginia, is a public high school serving 676 students in grades 9–12 within Wise County Public Schools, a district ranked #2 out of 131 in Virginia. The school itself is one of the Commonwealth's elite high schools—ranked #4 out of 331 Virginia high schools in the 2025–2026 school year, placing it in the 99th percentile with a 5-star rating. This consistency is no fluke: Central High has finished in the top 30 statewide for ten consecutive years and in the top 10 for seven of those years, climbing steadily from #30 in 2021–2022 to its current #4 ranking.

For parents, the numbers that matter most are striking. Central High graduates 99.4% of its students, far above the state average of 92.3%, and the dropout rate sits at just 0.5%. On Virginia SOL assessments, students dramatically outperform state averages—98.1% proficiency in Algebra I versus 80.2% statewide, 91.6% in Biology versus 68.9%, and 94.1% in 11th-grade reading. These results consistently outpace nearby schools like Union High (#24 statewide), Eastside High (#43), and Ridgeview High (#168). What makes this even more remarkable is that Central achieves these outcomes with a lower per-pupil budget ($7,877) than any comparable school in the region—Ridgeview spends $13,618 per student—and a higher student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1.

Central High's success extends across every student group. Low-income students, who make up 90.7% of the school, rank #4 statewide, and disabled students rank #16, showing a genuine commitment to supporting all learners. Chronic absenteeism, the school's weakest metric, has improved from 26.8% in 2021–2022 to 14.7% in 2024–2025, now right at the state average. For families considering schools in southwest Virginia, Central High stands as the clear academic anchor of the region—proof that high expectations and strong instruction can produce top-tier results regardless of a school's budget or the economic challenges its students face.

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%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Central High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2016 → 99th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (93% vs 79% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Virginia high schools

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school93%

District avg90%

Virginia avg79%

4^th of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

2^nd of 131Wise 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	85.3	4 of 331	98.8%	★★★★★
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
2026	84.8	16 of 252	93.7%	★★★★★
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
2026	87.0	4 of 322	98.8%	★★★★★
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
2026	88.8	4 of 321	98.8%	★★★★★
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
2026	82.2	15 of 325	95.4%	★★★★★
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
2026	77.2	19 of 312	93.9%	★★★★★
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)

Female (2026)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)99th percentile~ school

Male (2026)95th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)94th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2026)94th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra II100%+6 vs state

Algebra I98%+19 vs state

English Reading94%+8 vs state

Biology92%+15 vs state

World History I90%+20 vs state

Writing88%+13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central High

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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 Writing (2026)			SOL Geometry (2026)				SOL Algebra I (2026)					SOL Algebra II (2026)			SOL Mathematics (2026)	SOL Biology (2026)				SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)					SOL English Reading (2026)				SOL Geography (2026)					SOL VA and US History (2026)			SOL World History I (2026)					SOL World History II (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 Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 12th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 8th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th Grade	SOL Geography 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 10th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 8th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 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	Norton city	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%)	85.3	4^th of 331 public high schools	98.8%		83.4	7^th of 328 public high schools	97.9%	3	≥ 50%	88.4	≥ 50%	≥ 50%					98.1	432.0	405.0	≥ 50%	100.0				< 50%	91.6	416.0	≥ 50%								≥ 50%	94.1	438.0						< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		90.8	83.3	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		$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%)	59.3	149^th of 331 public high schools	55.0%		61.2	138^th of 328 public high schools	57.9%	11		78.3	413.0	425.0				100.0	86.5	≥ 50%		≥ 50%	100.0			64.1	≥ 50%	88.9	< 50%	≥ 50%	70.2	≥ 50%	76.5	< 50%			78.7		86.4	426.0	63.8	423.0	45.5	< 50%	≥ 50%		365.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	66.7	< 50%	≥ 50%			$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%)	77	43^rd of 331 public high schools	87.0%		66.6	109^th of 328 public high schools	66.8%	66		95.6		100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			92.3	425.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%						85.7	≥ 50%	≥ 50%				389.0	396.0				90.0	464.0		370.0	54.6	< 50%	< 50%		53.9	< 50%		81.0	≥ 50%	< 50%			$10,913	$26	$10,887
Wise Correctional Center Unit #18	Public	11-12	3602 Bear Lane	Coeburn	24230	Wise County	Virginia Department of Corrections	No	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(540) 395-2384																			(n/a)
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%)	80.1	24^th of 331 public high schools	92.7%		75.8	51^st of 328 public high schools	84.5%	27		96.6		≥ 50%		< 50%			88.4	≥ 50%	432.0	≥ 50%	93.9	≥ 50%			≥ 50%	89.1	≥ 50%									≥ 50%	93.4				< 50%			≥ 50%	≥ 50%			86.4	454.0	≥ 50%	< 50%		$9,170	$04	$9,166
Wallen's Ridge Correctional Center	Public	11-12	272 Dogwood Dr.	Big Stone Gap	24219	Wise County	Virginia Department of Corrections	No	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(276) 523-3310																			(n/a)
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%)	61.7	134^th of 331 public high schools	59.5%		71.6	79^th of 328 public high schools	75.9%	55				< 50%				≥ 50%	89.1	< 50%					≥ 50%	72.6		79.6	≥ 50%		67.9		100.0		< 50%	≥ 50%	72.2		86.5	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	63.6	418.0	≥ 50%	443.0		413.0								$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%)	28.2	291^st of 331 public high schools	12.1%		61.3	137^th of 328 public high schools	58.2%	154					≥ 50%			447.0	62.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%					68.9		63.6	399.0		61.5		< 50%				79.2		82.5	456.0	≥ 50%	68.0	423.0	399.0			381.0				< 50%				$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%)	56.4	168^th of 331 public high schools	49.2%		56.9	164^th of 328 public high schools	50.0%	4				93.8	< 50%				86.0	420.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%						85.6	≥ 50%	445.0						< 50%		≥ 50%	84.0								374.0	< 50%		60.8	389.0		≥ 50%	367.0	$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%)	41.7	237^th of 331 public high schools	28.4%		54.6	171^st of 328 public high schools	47.9%	66				40.4	≥ 50%		< 50%	90.9	429.0	≥ 50%		≥ 50%				25.0		66.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	56.4		77.4	≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	58.2		89.3	≥ 50%	41.4	392.0	≥ 50%		≥ 50%		388.0	≥ 50%							$9,509	$659	$8,850

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High

What district is Central High in?

Wise County Public Schools

Is Central High a good school?

Yes! Central High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 4^th of 331 Virginia high schools.

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

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.

How many students attend Central High?

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

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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.