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Fort Chiswell High

Q: Is Fort Chiswell High a good school?

Yes. Fort Chiswell High ranks in the top 5.4% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Fort Chiswell High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 411 students attended Fort Chiswell High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Fort Chiswell High?

Students at Fort Chiswell High are 94% White, 2% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

Q: What schools feed into Fort Chiswell High?

Fort Chiswell High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Jackson Memorial Elementary Elementary : Max Meadows Elementary Elementary : Sheffey Elementary Middle : Fort Chiswell Middle

Public Grades 9-12

18^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 95% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Fort Chiswell High School serves approximately 411 students in grades 9–12 in the rural community of Max Meadows, Virginia, and is part of Wythe County Public Schools, a district ranked 13th out of 131 statewide. Despite 81% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school currently ranks #18 out of 331 Virginia high schools (top 5%) and has earned 5-star ratings in four of the last six school years. It outperforms nearby Galax High (#66), Carroll County High (#103), and Pulaski County Senior High (#212), as well as George Wythe High (#97)—a same-district school just 9 miles away with similar demographics.

The school's greatest academic strength is mathematics. For the third consecutive year, 100% of 9th graders scored proficient or advanced on both the Geometry and Algebra I SOL assessments, compared to state averages of 85.9% and 80.2%. This outpaces regional peers such as Galax High (90.2% Geometry), Carroll County High (86.2%), and Pulaski County Senior High (97.1%). What truly sets Fort Chiswell apart, however, is its support for high-need students: economically disadvantaged students rank 5th in the entire state, and disabled students rank 6th, demonstrating that the school's success extends to the populations that often face the largest achievement gaps.

Fort Chiswell's 97% graduation rate exceeds the state average (92.3%), and chronic absenteeism has fallen dramatically from 42.8% in 2021–2022 to just 10.6% in 2024–2025—lower than the state's 14.8%. The school achieves these results while spending just $9,638 per student, notably less than Galax High ($12,127) and Pulaski County Senior High ($11,484). There are areas for continued improvement: female students rank #6 statewide compared to males at #54, and 11th-grade English reading proficiency dipped slightly below the state average in 2025–2026. Still, the school's post-pandemic rebound—from a ranking of 205th in 2020–2021 back into the top 20—plus its remarkable outcomes for low-income and disabled students make it a standout model of equity and academic excellence.

411

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,638

Per pupil spending ?

81%

Free/discounted lunch ?

#1 Pioneer Trail
Max Meadows, VA 24360

(276) 637-3437

District: Wythe County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Fort Chiswell High:

Elementary:	Jackson Memorial Elementary
	Max Meadows Elementary
	Sheffey Elementary
Middle:	Fort Chiswell Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.4%

Two or more races:

2.4%

Hispanic:

1.9%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Fort Chiswell High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 95th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (92% vs 77% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of Virginia high schools

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Virginia average (92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school92%

District avg86%

Virginia avg77%

18^th of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 22 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 5% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3High Schools in the Wythe County Public Schools

13^th of 131Wythe 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	81.0	18 of 331	94.6%	★★★★★
2025	81.4	18 of 328	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	82.9	11 of 329	96.7%	★★★★★
2023	70.3	82 of 326	74.8%	★★★★☆
2022	74.5	24 of 325	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	38.7	205 of 327	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	75.9	17 of 327	94.8%	★★★★★
2018	65.5	62 of 326	81.0%	★★★★☆
2017	63.2	74 of 324	77.2%	★★★★☆
2016	60.5	87 of 321	72.9%	★★★★☆
2015	33.3	248 of 322	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	37.0	228 of 322	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.9	269 of 321	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.9	275 of 321	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	31.9	255 of 320	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	36.9	238 of 317	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	47.9	164 of 313	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.9	169 of 316	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.0	217 of 313	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	24.1	287 of 314	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	16.7	301 of 308	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	92.5	6 of 253	97.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	85.1	6 of 322	98.1%	★★★★★
2025	77.4	37 of 321	88.5%	★★★★☆
2024	83.0	11 of 322	96.6%	★★★★★
2023	65.2	108 of 320	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	5 of 321	98.4%	★★★★★
2025	78.8	31 of 324	90.4%	★★★★★
2024	87.3	13 of 320	95.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	54 of 325	83.4%	★★★★☆
2025	78.3	38 of 322	88.2%	★★★★☆
2024	79.2	40 of 322	87.6%	★★★★☆
2023	75.0	57 of 321	82.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	71.6	56 of 312	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	70.8	66 of 313	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	73.7	35 of 314	88.9%	★★★★☆
2023	54.0	167 of 315	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)98th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)98th percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2024)98th percentile~ school

Male (2026)83rd percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)82nd percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+17 vs state

Algebra I100%+21 vs state

World History I92%+22 vs state

Biology89%+20 vs state

English Reading88%~ state avg

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 24, 2014

I give Fort Chiswell High School a very low rating. We moved here from Florida and are shocked at the lack of importance the educational system seems to hold. The math department is absolutely horrible. My children were homeschooled prior to our moving to the area and have learned almost nothing new since attending Fort Chiswell. Many of the students disrupt class, which prevents the other students from learning, and nothing is done to stop it. If you are looking for your child to gain a good education, I would pass on this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Fort Chiswell 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 Chemistry (2026)			SOL Biology (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 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 Chemistry 10th Grade	SOL Chemistry 11th Grade	SOL Chemistry 12th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th Grade	SOL English Reading 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th 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 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 9th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Fort Chiswell High	Public	9-12	#1 Pioneer Trail	Max Meadows	24360	Wythe County	Wythe County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 637-3437	411	32	12.8	81.0%	388 (94.4%)	3 (0.7%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.4%)	81	18^th of 331 public high schools	94.6%		81.4	18^th of 328 public high schools	94.5%			≥ 50%	≥ 50%	100.0		≥ 50%		100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%									88.6	390.0	≥ 50%			≥ 50%	≥ 50%		≥ 50%	87.8	≥ 50%			< 50%	368.0	< 50%	92.4	390.0		≥ 50%		≥ 50%	$9,638	$180	$9,459
George Wythe High	Public	9-12	1 Maroon Way	Wytheville	24382	Wythe County	Wythe County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 228-3157	421	33	12.8	80.8%	353 (83.8%)	31 (7.4%)	15 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.0%)	67.9	97^th of 331 public high schools	70.7%		71.5	81^st of 328 public high schools	75.3%	16		400.0	412.0	100.0				88.7	81.3	≥ 50%	≥ 50%							≥ 50%	87.0	399.0	≥ 50%		< 50%	387.0			≥ 50%	83.5	448.0			< 50%	369.0		77.7	69.2	≥ 50%			< 50%	$9,339	$242	$9,097
Carroll County High	Public	9-12	100 Cavs Lane	Hillsville	24343	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 728-2125	1,033	88	11.6	89.4%	936 (90.6%)	7 (0.7%)	59 (5.7%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (2.5%)	67.5	103^rd of 331 public high schools	68.9%		68.6	100^th of 328 public high schools	69.5%	3		94.9	≥ 50%	86.2	368.0	< 50%		88.1	84.6	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		≥ 50%		< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	81.4	393.0	< 50%	100.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		≥ 50%	86.8	65.0	< 50%	≥ 50%		369.0	< 50%					< 50%		$9,179	$176	$9,003
Pulaski County Senior High	Public	9-12	5414 Cougar Trail Rd	Dublin	24084	Pulaski County	Pulaski County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 643-0747	1,159	96	12.0	91.0%	948 (81.8%)	53 (4.6%)	60 (5.2%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (7.8%)	47.3	212^th of 331 public high schools	36.0%		51.3	194^th of 328 public high schools	40.9%	18		93.8		97.1	< 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	77.0	400.0	388.0	406.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%		410.0	73.7	13.0	422.0	< 50%	< 50%	373.0	≥ 50%	< 50%	72.7	81.1	81.8	≥ 50%			< 50%	< 50%	386.0	< 50%				≥ 50%	$11,484	$362	$11,122
Rural Retreat High	Public	9-12	321 E Buck St	Rural Retreat	24368	Wythe County	Wythe County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 686-4143	300	24	12.5	79.7%	285 (95.0%)	3 (1.0%)	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	87.5	2^nd of 331 public high schools	99.4%		90.6	1^st of 328 public high schools	99.7%	1			≥ 50%	100.0				95.7	445.0									100.0	91.6	≥ 50%			≥ 50%	< 50%			< 50%	94.7					≥ 50%		91.6	404.0	< 50%				$10,211	$33	$10,177
Galax High	Public	9-12	200 Maroon Tide Dr	Galax	24333	Galax city	Galax City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(276) 236-2991	432	31	13.7	88.9%	246 (56.9%)	25 (5.8%)	149 (34.5%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.9%)	73.5	66^th of 331 public high schools	80.1%		60.1	146^th of 328 public high schools	55.5%	80	78.6	81.8		90.2		< 50%		87.9	390.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%							93.3	93.3	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		< 50%	≥ 50%				90.7	426.0			< 50%	64.0	≥ 50%	361.0		< 50%		394.0	< 50%	$12,127	$711	$11,415

Frequently Asked Questions about Fort Chiswell High

What district is Fort Chiswell High in?

Wythe County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Fort Chiswell High?

Students at Fort Chiswell High are 94% White, 2% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Fort Chiswell High?

Fort Chiswell High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Jackson Memorial Elementary
Elementary : Max Meadows Elementary
Elementary : Sheffey Elementary
Middle : Fort Chiswell Middle

How many students attend Fort Chiswell High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 411 students attended Fort Chiswell High.

Is Fort Chiswell High a good school?

Yes. Fort Chiswell High ranks in the top 5.4% of Virginia high schools.

Rate Fort Chiswell 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.