Best High Schools in Zip Code 23901

Zip code 23901 in Farmville, Virginia is served by a single public high school, Prince Edward County High, which enrolls 502 students in grades 9–12 and belongs to Prince Edward County Public Schools. Because only one high school serves this zip code, all comparisons are made against Virginia state averages rather than neighboring schools. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 17.9 and spends $11,136 per student, with an economically disadvantaged population that qualifies nearly every student for free or reduced-price lunch.

Prince Edward County High shows a mixed academic picture. The school's graduation rate of 89.5% trails the state average of 92.3%, yet its dropout rate of 4.0% is better than Virginia's 5.0% statewide rate. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, with 22.4% of students missing significant school days compared to 14.8% statewide. In testing, the school's strongest subject is history: in 2024–2025, VA & U.S. History proficiency exceeded the state by more than 24 points in grades 10–12, and in 2025–2026 World History II ran 17 points above the state average. However, math and writing lag considerably. Geometry proficiency among 9th graders was just 45.45% versus 85.88% statewide, while 11th grade writing proficiency was 55.05% compared to 79.89% statewide. Algebra I proficiency also fell sharply from 80.21% to 59.57% in one year.

Year-over-year performance at Prince Edward County High has been volatile. The school's state ranking moved from the 8th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 20th percentile in 2024–2025, then dropped to the 6th percentile in 2025–2026. This instability, combined with high poverty and chronic absenteeism, points to significant barriers that affect achievement. The school's rating of zero stars in the most recent year reflects these challenges. On a positive note, the lower-than-state dropout rate suggests students are staying in school, and the strong history results indicate areas of genuine instructional strength. For parents, this is a school with real bright spots in history and persistence, but one that needs focused support in geometry, algebra readiness, writing, and attendance.