Schools in Zip Code 24266

Zip code 24266 in Lebanon, Virginia, serves about 1,431 students across four public schools in Russell County Public Schools, spanning grades PK through 12. Lebanon Elementary is the current standout, rising to a 3-star ranking in the 2025–2026 school year and outperforming the state in several subjects, including 4th grade Virginia Studies (83.95% vs. 70.52% statewide) and 3rd grade math (80.95% vs. 74.04%). This is especially impressive given that nearly 90% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Lebanon Primary serves PK–1 and has no recent test data, but its historical rankings were strong, reaching a 5-star rating in 2005–2006.

Lebanon Middle has extraordinary attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.3% compared to the district’s 13.9%, but its ranking recently collapsed from the 68th percentile (3 stars) to the 39th percentile (2 stars), with notable drops in 6th grade math and reading. Lebanon High remains the weakest link, ranking in the 24th–28th percentile for three straight years and earning only 1 star. It also has the lowest per-pupil spending ($6,780) and the highest chronic absenteeism (14.3%) among the four schools. Its graduation rate (88.3%) trails the state average (92.3%), though its dropout rate (2.9%) is actually better than both district and state averages. A striking gap at the high school shows 8th graders in Algebra I scoring 95.83% proficient while 8th graders in grade-level math score just 15.63%.

The most pressing issues are the dramatic rise in chronic absenteeism between middle school and high school, the volatility in high school math and science scores, and the recent middle school decline. Meanwhile, the elementary schools demonstrate that strong results are possible despite high poverty, with all four schools serving a student population where roughly 90–94% qualify for free or reduced lunch. The overall pattern suggests academic strength that fades as students move through the system, and the lower spending at the high school may be worth examining given its persistent struggles.