Summary:
There is one public middle school in zip code 24416: Parry McCluer Middle, serving grades 6–7 in Buena Vista, Virginia, as part of Buena Vista City Public Schools. With just 126 students, this small school stands out for its strong academic performance, especially in mathematics, while serving a student body where over 90% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Parry McCluer Middle consistently earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 20% of Virginia middle schools. In the 2025-2026 school year, 87.93% of 7th graders were proficient in math, compared to the state average of 51.11% — a remarkable 37-point gap. 6th grade math also exceeded the state average by 17 points (80.33% vs. 63.19%). Reading scores are solid, with 7th grade reading at 81.03% and 6th grade reading at 73.77%, both at or above state averages. Civics and Economics proficiency reached 79.31%, well above the state’s 70.10%. The school also has an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.6%, about half the state average of 14.8%, despite high economic need.
Families should note the school’s small size and favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.9, which supports individualized attention. Per-student spending is $13,246, reflecting a strong investment in resources. However, because cohorts are small, proficiency percentages can shift noticeably from year to year — for example, 6th grade math dipped from 86.67% to 80.33%. The school’s ranking has also slipped slightly, from the 81st percentile to the 79th, while still earning 4 stars. Overall, Parry McCluer Middle is an academically strong, high-poverty school that outperforms state averages in core subjects and maintains excellent attendance, making it a standout option in this area.
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