Schools in Zip Code 24219

Zip code 24219 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, is served by three schools—Union Primary (PK–4), Union Middle (5–8), and Union High (9–12)—all part of the top-ranked Wise County Public Schools district, which ranks 2nd out of 131 districts in Virginia. Together, these schools enroll roughly 1,934 students, and each one earns a 5-star rating while serving a student population where about 9 out of 10 children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Compared to peer schools across Virginia, all three are standouts. Union Primary is the strongest relative to its category, ranking in the 96th percentile (49th of 1,111 elementary schools) and maintaining 5 stars for three consecutive years; its 4th-grade reading proficiency is 92.7%, and even its lowest subject area, 3rd-grade reading at 83.5%, is about 16 points above the state average. Union High excels as a finisher, with a 98% graduation rate, a 1.3% dropout rate (state: 5.0%), and 11th-grade writing and reading proficiency of 96.6% and 93.4%, respectively. Union Middle also ranks highly (93rd percentile, 5 stars) but shows a split in math: 8th graders in Algebra I post 100% proficiency, while 8th-grade general math proficiency fell sharply to 51.7% in 2025-2026, a notable weak spot compared to the district.

The biggest red flag across the cluster is chronic absenteeism, which is 20.8% at Union Primary and 20.0% at Union Middle, well above the 14.8% state average, even though these schools continue to outperform academically. Union Middle also receives the highest per-pupil spending ($9,209) and lowest student-teacher ratio (12.0), yet posts the lowest overall test average of the three schools—likely reflecting the challenges of the middle-school transition. Overall, this is an exceptionally strong, high-poverty school community in Virginia, but attendance and 8th-grade general math are the areas to watch.