Summary:
Zip code 24549 is served by a single high school, Tunstall High, a grades 9–12 school of 800 students in Dry Fork, Virginia, operating within Pittsylvania County Public Schools. This makes Tunstall High the only option in the area, so the entire analysis focuses on its strengths and weaknesses.
Tunstall High is a 5-star school with impressive results despite economic challenges. Its graduation rate is 96.4%, well above the state's 92.3%, and its dropout rate of 2.5% is half the state average. On SOL tests, Tunstall High outperformed the state in 9 of 10 subjects in 2025–2026, with standout results in Algebra II (100% proficient), Geometry (95.35%), and 11th-grade Reading (95.16%). The school also posted a 28-point advantage over the state in 10th-grade World History I. With a student–teacher ratio of 14.2:1, students benefit from relatively small classes.
However, there are areas to watch. Chronic absenteeism at Tunstall High is 20.7%, significantly higher than the district (14.3%) and state (14.8%). While 11th-grade writing is strong, 12th-grade writing proficiency dropped to 61.11%, below the state average. Tunstall High's state ranking has slipped from #7 in 2023–2024 to #32 in 2025–2026, though it remains in the top 10% of Virginia high schools. Given its high economic disadvantage rate of 85.88%, these academic results are especially noteworthy. Addressing absenteeism and senior writing could help Tunstall High regain its top-tier status.
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