Summary:
Zip code 24563, serving the Hurt, Virginia area, contains just one school: John L. Hurt Elementary, a PK–5 elementary school with 257 students in Pittsylvania County Public Schools. As the only school in the area, it is automatically the standout, but it earns that distinction through academic performance that consistently surpasses the Virginia state average in every tested subject and grade level across both years of data provided.
The school currently ranks 179th out of 1,111 Virginia schools (84th percentile, 4 stars), recovering from a prior rank of 231st and following a 2023–2024 peak of 48th out of 1,114 schools (96th percentile, 5 stars). In 2025–2026, average SOL proficiency rates were 82.9% in math, 88.5% in reading, 91.2% in science, and 84.4% in Virginia Studies — all above state averages of 73.2%, 71.2%, 68.8%, and 70.5%. Reading is a particular strength, with 4th grade reading at 93.3% proficiency versus 73.7% statewide, and 5th grade science posting a 22.4-point advantage over the state.
Remarkably, the school achieves these results while serving a student population where 87.55% qualify for free/reduced lunch. Chronic absenteeism is just 6.2%, less than half the district rate of 14.3% and the state rate of 14.8%. A favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1 and per-student spending of $9,709 may support this success. While the school generally outperforms its district, it does not lead every subject every year — for instance, 5th grade science dipped below the district average in 2024–2025 — but its reading results remain clearly superior to both district and state levels across the board.
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