Schools in Zip Code 24605

Zip code 24605 in Bluefield, Virginia contains four schools within Tazewell County Public Schools — Dudley Primary (PK–1), Graham Intermediate (2–5), Graham Middle (6–8), and Graham High (9–12) — serving roughly 1,440 students in a high-poverty area where about 89% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The district is rated 4 stars and ranks 19th out of 131 districts in Virginia, giving families a solid foundation across the entire feeder pattern.

Graham Middle is the clear standout, earning 5 stars for three straight years and ranking 25th out of 416 Virginia middle schools (94th percentile). Its average SOL proficiency is roughly 86%, with 7th-grade math at 89.3% proficient versus just 51.1% statewide. Graham High performs well too, ranking 45th out of 331 high schools (86th percentile) with a 93.8% graduation rate and 100% proficiency in 9th-grade Geometry. Graham Intermediate is the weakest link in the chain, rated 3 stars at the 59th percentile; its 3rd-grade reading proficiency (67.8%) sits essentially at the state average. Dudley Primary, serving PK–1, has no test scores, but its 27.8% chronic absenteeism rate is the highest in the zip code and a concern for the feeder pattern.

Chronic absenteeism is the most serious systemic issue — the district rate of 23.8% far exceeds Virginia's 14.8%, with the highest rates at Dudley Primary (27.8%) and Graham High (25.9%). Despite high poverty, this is a resilient cluster of schools. The advanced math pipeline is a defining strength: 100% of Graham Middle 8th graders taking Algebra I scored proficient in two consecutive years, and Graham High posts excellent Algebra I and Geometry results. Spending favors younger grades — Dudley Primary spends $9,616 per student versus $7,855 at Graham High — yet the higher-spending schools do not outperform the high school. Graham Intermediate shows the most volatility, with a 10.3-point jump in 5th-grade reading but an 8.8-point drop in 3rd-grade reading year over year.