Best High Schools in Zip Code 23085

Zip code 23085 in rural Virginia contains a single high school, Central High, serving grades 7 through 12 with 265 students as part of King and Queen County Public Schools. This combined middle and high school has shown sharp improvement in its statewide rank, moving from the 9th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 35th percentile in 2025–2026, and now earns 2 stars. What stands out most is the school’s ability to graduate students: the graduation rate of 94.4% exceeds the state’s 92.3%, and the dropout rate of 1.8% is far better than Virginia’s 5.0%.

Academically, Central High presents a mixed picture. In 2025–2026, 11th grade writing proficiency reached 84%, biology hit 70.27%, and World History I improved dramatically from 50% to 76.92%. However, 11th grade reading fell sharply from 91.89% the prior year to 74.19%, well below the state’s 88.13%. The most serious concern is middle school math: only 5.88% of 7th graders and 17.65% of 8th graders were proficient, compared to state averages of 51.11% and 46.86%. Chronic absenteeism is also elevated at 26.6%, nearly double the state’s 14.8%, which likely contributes to these academic gaps. The school’s spending of $13,550 per student and a 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio indicate that resources and class sizes are not the primary obstacles.

For parents, Central High offers a supportive environment that successfully keeps students on track to graduation, with strong outcomes in several high school subjects. The school is clearly improving and capable of significant gains, as seen in World History I and biology. Yet the very low math proficiency in grades 7 and 8, combined with a dropout in 11th grade reading, suggests that foundational instruction and attendance need focused attention. The high free/reduced lunch percentage of 106.79% likely reflects a universal meal program, pointing to a high-need student population. Overall, Central High is moving in the right direction, but families should be aware that middle school math and chronic absenteeism remain major challenges that will require targeted intervention.