Schools in Zip Code 24224

Zip code 24224, serving the Castlewood, VA area, contains two public schools within Russell County Public Schools: Castlewood Elementary (grades PK–7) and Castlewood High (grades 8–12), with no standalone middle school. Both schools serve highly economically disadvantaged populations, with roughly 91% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, and the district ranks in the lower-middle range of Virginia at the 39th percentile.

Neither school is a statewide standout, but Castlewood High is the higher performer of the two, ranking in the 28th percentile of Virginia high schools compared to Castlewood Elementary's 17th percentile among elementary schools. The high school posts strong scores in 8th-grade Algebra I (90.9% proficient), Earth Science (77.4%), and 11th-grade reading (89.3%) — all at or above state averages. Castlewood Elementary's standout is its 7th-grade performance, with reading at 80% and math at 60%, both above state averages. However, significant gaps remain: elementary scores trail the state by 22–34 points in 3rd-grade math, 5th-grade science, and 4th-grade VA Studies, while the high school shows a striking split in 8th-grade math — 90.9% proficiency in Algebra I versus just 25% in general math, indicating sharply differentiated math pathways.

The most pressing concerns are the high school's dropout rate of 10.1% — more than double the state rate — and the large year-over-year proficiency swings that reflect small-school cohort volatility, such as a +19.2-point jump in 7th-grade reading and a –30.1-point drop in 5th-grade science. Chronic absenteeism is reversed between the schools, with the elementary school at 16.0% (above the state's 14.8%) versus the high school's healthier 11.9%. Both schools hold 1-star ratings, and their state rankings have trended downward over three years. Despite Castlewood Elementary's higher per-student spending ($11,244 vs. $9,509) and smaller classes (10.6:1 vs. 14.9:1), it ranks below the high school, suggesting that poverty, attendance, and cohort composition play larger roles than resources alone in driving outcomes. For parents, the takeaways are mixed: real academic bright spots exist in reading and Algebra I, but sustaining improvement remains a challenge.