Schools in Zip Code 24620

Zip code 24620 in Hurley, Virginia, is served by two public schools within Buchanan County Public Schools, enrolling a combined 517 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a high-poverty, rural Appalachian community.

For parents comparing the two schools in this area, Hurley Elementary/Middle and Hurley High each have clear strengths. Hurley Elementary/Middle excels in early literacy, with 3rd grade reading at 80% proficiency, 4th grade reading at 88.2%, and an exceptional 90% proficiency in 7th grade reading — all well above state averages. However, this school shows a sharp slump in 5th grade, where math proficiency drops to 38.5% and science to 46.2%, followed by a 6th grade reading rate of just 53.6%. By contrast, Hurley High posts a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate, while also outperforming state averages in 11th grade reading (92.1%), writing (85.4%), and Algebra I (89.7% for 9th graders). The high school’s 8th grade scores are more mixed — science is strong at 76.5%, but 8th grade reading (68.6%) lags the state average of 73.5%.

Both schools share the same campus, but the unusual PK–7 and 8–12 grade split means the 7th-to-8th grade transition is a key academic boundary. Chronic absenteeism sits near 12% at both schools, far better than the district’s 21.4% average, which is notable given that nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Hurley Elementary/Middle spends more per student ($10,730 versus $8,555) and has smaller class sizes (11.4:1 versus 15.2:1), yet Hurley High posts stronger overall accountability outcomes, including a history of 5-star and 4-star ratings. The most actionable takeaway for parents is that early elementary reading is a standout strength, while 5th and 6th grade math and science — and 8th grade reading — represent the clearest opportunities for academic support.