Summary:
Zip code 24319 contains one elementary school, Chilhowie Elementary, serving grades PK–5 in Chilhowie, Virginia, as part of Smyth County Public Schools. This is a high-poverty school with 100% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, yet it continues to outperform state averages in several subjects, making it a notable standout in the region.
Chilhowie Elementary has earned a 4-star rating and ranked in the 72nd–80th percentile statewide over the past three years, while its district ranks 17th out of 131 Virginia districts. Math proficiency is a clear strength: in 2025–2026, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade math scores ranged from 81% to 85%, exceeding state averages by roughly 8 to 12 percentage points. Science proficiency remains above the state average (79.6% vs. 68.75%) despite a sharp drop from the prior year. Reading results are more uneven, with 4th and 5th grade reading well above state averages, but 3rd grade reading fell to 67.8% in the most recent year—a 9-point decline from the previous year and more than 8 points below the district average. This early literacy dip is the school’s biggest concern.
Chronic absenteeism sits at 15.3%, slightly above the state rate of 14.8% but below the district’s 17.0%. Per-student spending is $8,497 and the student-teacher ratio is 14.4. While still a strong school, Chilhowie Elementary’s statewide ranking slipped from the 80th to the 72nd percentile, driven largely by declines in 5th grade math and science. Overall, this is a high-performing, high-poverty school with exceptional math outcomes and a need to refocus on early reading support to reverse its recent downward trend.
Thank you for your feedback!