Schools in Zip Code 24134

Zip code 24134, serving Pearisburg, Virginia, is home to 3 schools within Giles County Public Schools, a district ranked 79 out of 131 in the state. The schools are Giles County K-12 Virtual School (alternative, grades K-12, 1,358 students), Giles High (grades 8-12, 530 students), and Macy Mcclaugherty Elementary/Middle (grades PK-7, 440 students). There is no standalone middle school in this zip code, as Macy Mcclaugherty serves through 7th grade and Giles High begins at 8th grade.

Giles High is the strongest school overall, posting roughly 75.4% average SOL proficiency, a 93.3% graduation rate that exceeds the state rate, and strong results in Biology, Writing, and Algebra I. However, its state ranking has fallen from the 87th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 35th percentile in 2025-2026, with notable weakness in 8th-grade science and 11th-grade reading. The virtual school enrolls the most students but has uneven academics, exceeding state averages in upper-grade reading and several science courses while falling below on 27 of 44 reported tests, particularly in geometry, history, and early elementary skills. Macy Mcclaugherty Elementary/Middle ranks lowest at the 30th percentile but shows promise, improving 7th-grade math to 65.5%, 7th-grade reading to 78.2%, and 4th-grade VA Studies from 22% to 71.4%.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at both physical schools, with Giles High at 25.5% and Macy Mcclaugherty at 18.6%, compared to the 14.8% state rate; the virtual school reports 0.0%, likely due to virtual attendance tracking. Social studies is a consistent weakness across the area, with several history courses scoring far below state averages, though Macy's 4th-grade VA Studies improvement is a bright spot. Both brick-and-mortar schools serve populations with roughly two-thirds of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, while the virtual school spends less per pupil ($7,696) than Giles High ($9,161) and Macy Mcclaugherty ($9,006). Overall, this rural Virginia cluster faces economic need, attendance challenges, and mixed performance, but pockets of excellence — especially in upper-level science and recent elementary gains — demonstrate capacity for improvement.