Summary:
Zip code 24236, encompassing the Damascus area of Virginia, contains a single high school—Holston High—serving grades 9 through 12 as part of Washington County Public Schools.
Holston High is an exceptional school that ranks among the very best in Virginia. For the 2025–2026 school year, it earned a 5-star rating and placed 10th out of 331 high schools statewide, sitting in the 97th percentile. This represents a remarkable climb from 42nd place just two years earlier. Academically, the school shines brightest in math: 100% of 9th graders passed Geometry and 97.6% passed Algebra I, far exceeding state averages. English Reading proficiency is also strong at 94.8% for 11th graders. The graduation rate is an excellent 96.4%, well above the state average of 92.3%, while the dropout rate of 2.3% is less than half the statewide rate. With a student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1 and per-student spending of $13,470, families can expect a relatively personalized learning environment in a small school of 254 students.
There are a few important cautions for parents to consider. Chronic absenteeism affects 20.7% of students—noticeably higher than both the district (13.8%) and state (14.8%)—which is a red flag even in a school with stellar test scores. Also, while 10th-grade Biology proficiency is strong at 85.7%, 11th-grade Biology drops to just 63.6%, below the state average. Notably, 74.8% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still achieves top-tier academic results, making it a compelling success story. The main challenges to watch are absenteeism and the grade-level Biology gap, but overall Holston High is punching well above its weight and is clearly one of Virginia's standout high schools.
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