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Gate City Historic DistrictGate City Historic District · Photo: Betcantrell · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Gate City · Scott County Public Schools

Gate City’s public schools outscore 71% of Virginia districts

66% of students in Gate City’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Virginia average (54%). The grade covers the public school district serving Gate City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Virginia, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Virginia state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Math proficiency
66%
▲ 12 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
86%
▼ 3 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.2K
▼ 17% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.1
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
1,287 students on the public path
In brief

Gate City’s schools, in brief

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,182 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Gate City Middle, then Gate City High. Enrollment is up 21% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Virginia Connections Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Gate City’s grade

A Test scoresC Graduation

B+: better than 71% of Virginia school districts. Test scores are above the Virginia average; graduation is below it.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 71%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (119)Better than 69%
BAA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,601 test results and a graduating class of 259 could put Gate City anywhere from B to A. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Gate City’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,601 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Gate City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Shoemaker ElementaryScott County Public SchoolsB
7–8Gate City MiddleScott County Public SchoolsB+
9–12Gate City HighScott County Public SchoolsA

Gate City’s public schools are run by Scott County Public Schools, which also serves Clinchport, Duffield, Dungannon and Nickelsville and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Scott County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 4,166 students, up 21% since 2020–21 · 12.1 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$14,182VA $17,169 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math66%
State average 54.4% · 1601 students tested

Gate City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Gate City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Gate CityB+Scott County
Weber CityB+Scott County

Every school in Gate City

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Virginia’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Gate Cityby address
Shoemaker Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B
419 students11:1Rate it →
Gate City Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8
B+
276 students10:1Rate it →
Gate City High
High · Grades 9–12
A
592 students15:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Gate Citynot counted as local schools
Virginia Connections Academy
Secondary · Grades 6–11
Online
728 studentsRate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Renaissance/Scott Co and Scott County Career and Technical Center).

Questions about Gate City’s schools

Are Gate City’s schools good?

By Virginia’s own tests, yes: the public schools Gate City children attend outscore 71% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Gate City in?

Scott County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,166 students in 13 schools (2024–25).

Where do Gate City kids go to high school?

Gate City High, with 592 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Gate City’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Scott County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Gate City spend per student?

$14,182 in Scott County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Gate City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gate City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Virginia. Stars are from neighbors.