Summary:
Zip code 24219 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, is home to one middle school, Union Middle, serving grades 5 through 8 within Wise County Public Schools. Union Middle has earned a 5-star state ranking, placing 30th out of 416 Virginia middle schools for 2025–2026, up from 53rd just two years earlier. This is a strong result for a school where 93.76% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, showing that the school consistently outperforms state averages in nearly every subject despite high poverty levels.
In 2025–2026, Union Middle exceeded the Virginia state average in all 12 reported subject and grade combinations. The school posted a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I exam, and 7th graders scored 92.42% in Civics, which was 22 points above the state average. Students also performed well in 5th grade math (89.92%) and 6th grade reading (89.84%). One notable concern is 8th grade math, which dropped from 76.09% to 51.72% proficiency in one year, falling well below the district's 80.28% rate. The school also trails the district in 8th grade reading and science, suggesting that strengths are strongest in the earlier middle grades.
Union Middle benefits from a favorable 12:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $9,209, which may support its academic success. However, chronic absenteeism is elevated at 20.0%, compared to 15.0% for the district and 14.8% for the state. Despite this challenge, the school has shown rapid improvement in subjects like 5th grade math, which rose by 24 percentage points in a year. For parents, Union Middle represents a high-performing school with excellent results in advanced math and civics, though the 8th grade math dip and attendance rates are worth monitoring.
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