Summary:
Zip code 24416 contains one high school: Parry McCluer High, located in Buena Vista, Virginia, and part of Buena Vista City Public Schools. The school serves grades 8 through 12 with an enrollment of 315 students. It is a small school with a high poverty rate—about 92% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—yet it maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.3 to 1 and spends approximately $11,273 per student.
Parry McCluer High has shown a strong rebound in statewide rankings. After ranking 185th (44th percentile, 2 stars) in 2023–2024 and slipping to 197th (40th percentile, 2 stars) in 2024–2025, the school climbed to 161st out of 331 Virginia high schools in 2025–2026, placing it in the top half of the state with a 3-star rating. Its graduation rate of 90% is slightly below the state average of 92.3%, and its dropout rate of 5.7% is close to the state's 5.0%. Attendance is a notable strength: chronic absenteeism is just 8.5%, far better than the state average of 14.8%.
Academically, the school's strengths lie in mathematics and science. Algebra I proficiency is consistently well above state averages, Biology proficiency improved to 82.7%, and Geometry and Earth Science meet or exceed state benchmarks. However, 11th-grade writing is a clear weak spot at 69.5% proficiency versus 79.9% statewide, and 8th-grade science dropped sharply from 75.9% to 57.6%, now below the state average. With strong attendance, solid STEM performance, and an improving state ranking, Parry McCluer High appears to be on an upward trajectory, though writing and 8th-grade science consistency remain areas to watch.
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