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Morgan west of Kentucky, Pennington GapPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
C+
Schools in Pennington Gap · Lee County Public Schools

Pennington Gap’s public schools score below 63% of Virginia districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Pennington Gap, 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
53%
▼ 1 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 5–9 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.6K
▼ 9% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.0
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
2,602 students on the public path
In brief

Pennington Gap’s schools, in brief

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,613 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then one middle and two middle schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

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 Pennington Gap’s grade

B Test scoresD Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Virginia school districts. Both inputs trail the Virginia average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
C−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,359 test results and a graduating class of 200 could put Pennington Gap anywhere from C− to B. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Pennington Gap’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,359 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–45 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+
5–7Pennington MiddleLee County Public SchoolsC+
8–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−

Pennington Gap’s public schools are run by Lee County Public Schools, which also serves Jonesville. 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.

Lee County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 10 schools · 2,966 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$15,613VA $17,169 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math53%
State average 54.4% · 1359 students tested

Pennington Gap vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Pennington Gap’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Pennington GapC+Lee County

Every school in Pennington Gap

8 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 Pennington Gapby address
Pennington Middle
Middle · Grades 5–7
C+
278 students9:1Rate it →
Also serving Pennington Gapin other towns
Flatwoods Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Jonesville
B+
336 students14:1Rate it →
Elk Knob Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
C
291 students12:1Rate it →
Rose Hill Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Rose Hill
C+
256 students15:1Rate it →
Dryden Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Dryden
C
237 students11:1Rate it →
St. Charles Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · St Charles
C
110 students10:1Rate it →
Lee High
High · Grades 8–12 · Jonesville
B−
803 students19:1Rate it →
Thomas Walker High
High · Grades 8–12 · Ewing
C+
291 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Pennington Gap’s schools

Are Pennington Gap’s schools good?

On Virginia’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pennington Gap children attend score below 63% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pennington Gap in?

Lee County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,966 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

What is Pennington Gap’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Lee County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Pennington Gap spend per student?

$15,613 in Lee County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pennington Gap families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pennington Gap → 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.