Summary:
In zip code 24614, there is just one middle school—Richlands Middle—serving grades 6 through 8 in the Richlands, Virginia area, with 447 students enrolled in the Tazewell County Public Schools district. For parents, this means the school is the sole option for middle schoolers in this part of the county, so understanding its strengths and challenges is especially important.
Richlands Middle stands out for its very strong math performance. In 8th grade mathematics, 71% of students were proficient in 2025–2026, compared with just 46.9% statewide—a remarkable 24-point gap. Similarly, 7th grade math proficiency reached 69.2% versus 51.1% statewide, and 8th grade Algebra I proficiency was a perfect 100% in both reported years. Science is also a bright spot, with about 74% proficiency versus roughly 65% statewide. This is all the more impressive given that 88.14% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, showing that high poverty does not prevent strong academic results. Reading scores are mixed: 6th and 8th graders exceed state averages, but 7th graders dipped to 69.8% in 2025–2026, below the state’s 73.0% and down from 76.8% the year before.
Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 21.4%—better than the district average of 23.8% but well above Virginia’s 14.8%. The school also saw its state ranking slip from the 81st percentile in 2023–2024 to the 68th percentile in 2025–2026, even as test scores remained strong, likely because other schools improved. Still, with a favorable 13.3-to-1 student-teacher ratio and $8,993 spent per student, Richlands Middle is well-positioned to serve its high-need population. Overall, parents can expect a school that excels in math and science, offers perfect Algebra I results, and continues to outperform state averages in several core subjects, while keeping an eye on attendance and 7th grade reading.
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