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St. Paul Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-8

2^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 100% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

St. Paul Elementary in Saint Paul, Virginia, is a public school serving 514 students in grades PK-8 through Wise County Public Schools, and it has become one of the most remarkable academic success stories in rural Southwest Virginia. The school is currently ranked #2 out of 1,111 Virginia elementary and middle schools for the 2025–2026 school year, placing it in the 100th percentile with a 5-star rating. This is not a one-year fluke—St. Paul Elementary has ranked in the top 5 schools in Virginia for three consecutive years, after climbing steadily from 107th in 2015–2016.

What makes this achievement particularly striking is that nearly 9 in 10 students (86.77%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school posts near-universal proficiency rates on Virginia Standards of Learning assessments. In 2025–2026, St. Paul achieved proficiency rates of 95% or higher in every tested subject and grade level, including 100% in 3rd, 4th, and 8th-grade math and 100% on the 8th-grade Algebra I exam. The school ranks #1 in Virginia for disabled students and #2 for low socioeconomic status students, proving that poverty is not destiny. The contrast with nearby Castlewood Elementary—just 2.66 miles away—is dramatic: Castlewood ranks 919th, spends $2,569 more per student, and posts proficiency rates 30–60 points lower in most subjects.

St. Paul also stands out for its efficiency and school climate. It spends just $8,675 per student—$2,000 to $3,000 less than lower-performing neighbors like Dungannon Elementary and Council Elementary/Middle. Chronic absenteeism was just 5.0% in 2022–2023, well below the state average of 19.3%, and the student-teacher ratio is a low 11.6. The PK-8 model provides instructional continuity, and students can take 8th-grade Algebra I, with a 100% pass rate. Even within its own strong district, St. Paul stands apart: Coeburn Primary ranks 15th and Wise Primary ranks 138th statewide. For parents, St. Paul Elementary represents an extraordinary combination of high achievement, equity, and efficiency.

514

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,675

Per pupil spending ?

86.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3200 Deacon Drive
Saint Paul, VA 24283

(276) 762-5941

District: Wise County Public Schools

Students who attend St. Paul Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Coeburn Middle
	L.F. Addington Middle
	Union Middle
High:	Central High
	Eastside High
	Union High

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.0%

African American:

2.7%

Two or more races:

2.7%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare St. Paul Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 90th percentile in 2016 → 100th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (97% vs 70% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school97%

District avg88%

Virginia avg70%

Elementary school

2^nd of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1^st of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From top 5% (2016) to top 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Elementary 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	95.8	2 of 1111	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	95.4	4 of 1110	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	95.6	3 of 1114	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	95.3	3 of 1114	99.7%	★★★★★
2022	90.0	53 of 1109	95.2%	★★★★★
2021	94.8	9 of 1103	99.2%	★★★★★
2019	84.1	103 of 1105	90.7%	★★★★★
2018	81.8	128 of 1097	88.3%	★★★★☆
2017	87.1	63 of 1099	94.3%	★★★★★
2016	82.7	107 of 1096	90.2%	★★★★★
2015	84.3	81 of 1100	92.6%	★★★★★
2014	82.3	123 of 1110	88.9%	★★★★☆
2013	69.7	310 of 1120	72.3%	★★★★☆
2012	65.6	347 of 1117	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	79.0	139 of 1117	87.6%	★★★★☆
2010	67.0	329 of 1113	70.4%	★★★★☆
2009	72.9	238 of 1082	78.0%	★★★★☆
2008	60.3	436 of 1081	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	51.1	578 of 1083	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	61.0	425 of 1071	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	62.2	403 of 1062	62.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	98.4	1 of 355	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	99.2	1 of 324	99.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	95.1	2 of 1100	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	94.3	6 of 1096	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	94.4	3 of 1098	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	93.6	6 of 1100	99.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	99.1	2 of 1040	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	98.8	2 of 1046	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	98.6	2 of 1036	99.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	95.0	3 of 1099	99.7%	★★★★★
2025	95.0	6 of 1093	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	95.0	5 of 1101	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	95.0	5 of 1093	99.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	93.1	2 of 974	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	92.0	7 of 973	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	93.1	5 of 979	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.7	4 of 984	99.6%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	94.0	1 of 416	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	95.5	1 of 419	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	95.9	1 of 417	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	96.8	1 of 422	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	91.6	5 of 415	98.8%	★★★★★
2021	94.7	2 of 419	99.5%	★★★★★
2019	84.3	19 of 424	95.5%	★★★★★
2018	75.5	57 of 413	86.2%	★★★★☆
2017	92.4	2 of 415	99.5%	★★★★★
2016	83.6	22 of 409	94.6%	★★★★★
2015	63.5	113 of 412	72.6%	★★★★☆
2014	77.4	45 of 416	89.2%	★★★★☆
2013	64.1	99 of 416	76.2%	★★★★☆
2012	72.0	56 of 413	86.4%	★★★★☆
2011	67.3	80 of 413	80.6%	★★★★☆
2010	40.2	275 of 408	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	67.4	75 of 390	80.8%	★★★★☆
2008	56.0	156 of 391	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.5	136 of 387	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	60.3	122 of 383	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	94.9	1 of 409	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	94.7	1 of 403	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	95.7	1 of 407	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.8	4 of 411	99.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	98.3	1 of 401	99.8%	★★★★★
2025	99.1	1 of 403	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.4	1 of 402	99.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	93.7	2 of 410	99.5%	★★★★★
2025	94.9	2 of 404	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	97.4	1 of 407	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	96.9	1 of 409	99.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	92.1	2 of 400	99.5%	★★★★★
2025	92.5	3 of 400	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	94.8	2 of 396	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	95.4	1 of 402	99.8%	★★★★★

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)

Elementary school

Female (2026)100th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)100th percentile~ school

White (2026)100th percentile~ school

Male (2026)100th percentile~ school

Disabled (2024)100th percentile~ school

Middle school

Female (2026)100th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)100th percentile~ school

Male (2026)100th percentile~ school

White (2026)100th percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I100%+7 vs state

VA Studies100%+29 vs state

Mathematics99%+32 vs state

Science99%+32 vs state

English Reading96%+24 vs state

Civics and Economics92%+22 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, March 24, 2022

Amazing school with amazing staff that are willing to go above and beyond for their students. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, May 23, 2011

Our school is a smaller school and the children have more teacher/student interaction. Close Quote

Schools Near St. Paul 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 Algebra I (2026)	SOL Mathematics (2026)						SOL Science (2026)		SOL English Reading (2026)						SOL Civics and Economics (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 Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
St. Paul Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3200 Deacon Drive	Saint Paul	24283	Wise County	Wise County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 762-5941	514	44	11.6	86.8%	473 (92.0%)	14 (2.7%)	8 (1.6%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	95.8	2^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	99.8%		95.4	4^th of 1110 public elementary schools	99.6%	2	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.5	97.9	95.0	100.0	97.5	100.0	100.0	100.0	95.0	95.8	92.3	92.9	92.3	100.0	$8,675	$810	$7,865
Castlewood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-7	242 Blue Devil Circle	Castlewood	24224	Russell County	Russell County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 762-2315	354	33	10.6	91.5%	338 (95.5%)	5 (1.4%)	8 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	22.6	919^th of 1111 public elementary schools	17.3%		31.7	809^th of 1110 public elementary schools	27.1%	110		40.0	52.2	52.8	69.7	60.0		38.9		45.7	67.4	72.2	72.7	80.0		62.2	47.8	$11,244	$1,602	$9,641
Coeburn Primary	Public	PK, KG-4	332 School House Hill Dr.	Coeburn	24230	Wise County	Wise County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 395-6100	420	35	12.0	87.6%	369 (87.9%)	15 (3.6%)	12 (2.9%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.8%)	92.8	15^th of 1111 public elementary schools	98.6%		87.8	79^th of 1110 public elementary schools	92.9%	64		96.5	98.7							91.2	93.2						91.9	$8,685	$1,341	$7,345
Dungannon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-7	113 Fifth Avenue	Dungannon	24245	Scott County	Scott County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 467-2281	131	14	9.5	74.0%	126 (96.2%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)	57.1	521^st of 1111 public elementary schools	53.1%		61.7	458^th of 1110 public elementary schools	58.7%	63		62.5	75.0	70.6	84.6	75.0		76.5		56.3	100.0	70.6	76.9	65.0		70.0	91.7	$11,642	$2,053	$9,589
Lebanon Elementary	Public	2-4	56 George Ben Whited Drive	Lebanon	24266	Russell County	Russell County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 889-6531	292	24	12.3	89.7%	279 (95.5%)	6 (2.1%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	64.5	421^st of 1111 public elementary schools	62.1%		48.9	617^th of 1110 public elementary schools	44.4%	196		81.0	73.2							71.4	78.1						84.0	$8,272	$1,095	$7,177
Nickelsville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-7	11415 Nickesville Hwy	Nickelsville	24271	Scott County	Scott County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 479-2676	302	22	13.6	73.8%	277 (91.7%)	3 (1.0%)	14 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	47.6	642^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	42.2%		62.2	451^st of 1110 public elementary schools	59.4%	191		58.8	82.1	74.2	84.4	85.7		54.8		67.7	79.5	54.8	84.4	94.3		88.6	53.9	$9,488	$1,972	$7,517
Lebanon Primary	Public	PK, KG-1	919 East Main Street	Lebanon	24266	Russell County	Russell County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 889-4507	267	20	13.1	94.4%	257 (96.3%)	2 (0.7%)	4 (1.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)								(n/a)																		$7,633	$1,275	$6,357
Wise Primary	Public	PK, KG-4	323 Railroad Ave SE	Wise	24293	Wise County	Wise County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 328-8019	603	45	13.4	87.2%	524 (86.9%)	20 (3.3%)	24 (4.0%)	9 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.1%)	84.4	138^th of 1111 public elementary schools	87.6%		85.2	120^th of 1110 public elementary schools	89.2%	18		85.7	84.4							87.0	90.0						90.0	$8,901	$1,339	$7,562
Ridgeview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	300 Wolfpack Way	Clintwood	24228	Dickenson County	Dickenson County Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(276) 835-1602	667	58	11.5	96.0%	644 (96.6%)	4 (0.6%)	10 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.2%)	65.1	413^th of 1111 public elementary schools	62.8%		64.8	422^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	62.0%	9		86.7	75.6							75.9	78.9						71.5	$8,832	$988	$7,844
Council Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-7	7608 Helen Henderson Hwy	Honaker	24260	Russell County	Buchanan County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(276) 859-9329	194	16	12.2	103.6%	189 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	40.2	732^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	34.1%		38.1	737^th of 1110 public elementary schools	33.6%	5		62.5	69.0	55.0	77.8	52.2		75.0		62.5	72.4	50.0	55.6	69.6		56.5	75.9	$10,736	$3,923	$6,813

Frequently Asked Questions about St. Paul Elementary

What district is St. Paul Elementary in?

Wise County Public Schools

Is St. Paul Elementary a good school?

Yes! St. Paul Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 2^nd of 1111 Virginia elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of St. Paul Elementary attend?

Students who attend St. Paul Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Coeburn Middle
Middle : L.F. Addington Middle
Middle : Union Middle
High : Central High
High : Eastside High
High : Union High

How many students attend St. Paul Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 514 students attended St. Paul Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of St. Paul Elementary?

Students at St. Paul Elementary are 92% White, 3% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

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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.