Summary:
Zip code 24517 is home to a single high school: Altavista High, located in Altavista, Virginia, serving grades 6 through 12 within Campbell County Public Schools. With 606 students and a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 10.4:1, the school serves a community where 71.78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and per-pupil spending is $9,160. Altavista High has shown remarkable momentum, improving its state ranking from 263rd out of 329 Virginia schools in 2023–2024 (20th percentile, 1 star) to 188th out of 331 in 2025–2026 (43rd percentile, 2 stars)—a jump of 75 places in just two years.
The school posts standout results in several subjects. In 2025–2026, 9th-grade Biology reached 100% proficiency, and 10th-grade Biology hit 81.25%, both well above state averages. Tenth-grade World History I students scored 72.73% proficiency, roughly 20 points above both district and state averages. Early Algebra access is a clear strength: 8th-grade Algebra I proficiency was 94.74% in 2025–2026, and students who take Algebra I in 8th grade consistently outperform those who take it later, suggesting the school successfully accelerates stronger math students. Chronic absenteeism is also favorable at 10.8%, well below the state's 14.8%, despite the high poverty rate.
However, challenges remain. Math proficiency declines sharply through middle school, falling from 72.97% in 6th grade to 45.45% in 8th grade in 2025–2026, making 8th grade a critical intervention point. High school reading also lags, with 11th-grade English Reading at 83.08% proficiency versus the state's 88.13%. The graduation rate of 90.6% trails the district's 94.9%, and the dropout rate of 5.6% is more than double the district's 2.4%. Altavista High is not yet a top-tier school, but its two-year trajectory from the bottom fifth of Virginia schools to the mid-40s percentile, combined with strong science outcomes and solid attendance, makes it a school to watch.
Thank you for your feedback!