Summary:
Zip code 24501 in Lynchburg, Virginia, is served by a single public high school, E.C. Glass High, which enrolls approximately 1,220 students in grades 9–12 as part of Lynchburg City Public Schools.
E.C. Glass High is a very high-poverty school, with 94.75% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, and it faces significant challenges in key outcome measures. The graduation rate is 79.2%, well below the state average of 92.3%, while the dropout rate of 9.1% is nearly double the state rate. Chronic absenteeism is especially concerning at 33.6%, meaning roughly one in three students is chronically absent. The school has ranked in the bottom third of Virginia high schools for three consecutive years, currently sitting at the 11th percentile for 2025–2026. Academic weaknesses are most pronounced in math, such as Algebra I at 48.9% proficiency for 9th graders and just 23.4% for 10th graders, compared to state averages of 80.2% and 70.0%, respectively. Biology proficiency for 10th graders is also low at 39.4% versus the state’s 68.9%.
Despite these challenges, E.C. Glass shows genuine bright spots. The school outperforms the state in Geography (91.7% vs. 72.2%), 12th-grade English Reading (92.9% vs. 70.2%), and 12th-grade Biology (91.7% vs. 75.4%). Students also excel in VA & US History, beating the state average in both recent years. However, dramatic grade-level gaps—such as 9th graders scoring 90% in Geometry while 10th graders score 27.3%—suggest course-taking and retake effects, and year-to-year scores are volatile. With a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $10,522, the school has solid resources, yet outcomes lag, pointing to a need for targeted support in attendance, math instruction, and dropout prevention. For parents, this is a school with real strengths in humanities and upper-grade science, but one where math proficiency and student engagement need close attention.
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