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Wise County Courthouse - Front ViewPhoto: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 3.0
A+
Schools in Wise · Wise County Public Schools

Wise’s public schools outscore 97% of Virginia districts

74% of students in Wise’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Virginia average (54%). The grade covers the public school district serving Wise, 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.

#4of 250 Virginia townsK–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
74%
▲ 20 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 8 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.3K
▼ 23% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
2,648 students on the public path
In brief

Wise’s schools, in brief

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,256 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Minnick Education Center - Wise (private) is in town. 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 Wise’s grade

A+ Test scoresA+ Graduation

A+: better than 97% of Virginia school districts, #4 of 250 Virginia towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Virginia average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 97%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (202)Better than 96%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,666 test results and a graduating class of 404 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Wise’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,666 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Wise PrimaryWise County Public SchoolsA−
5–8L.F. Addington MiddleWise County Public SchoolsA
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to A+

Wise’s public schools are run by Wise County Public Schools, which also serves Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, Coeburn and Pound 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.

Wise County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 11 schools · 5,779 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 13.1 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$13,256VA $17,169 · FY2024
A+
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math74%
State average 54.4% · 2666 students tested

Wise vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WiseA+Wise County

Every school in Wise

6 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 Wiseby address
Wise Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A−
603 students13:1Rate it →
L.F. Addington Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8
A
387 students11:1Rate it →
Also serving Wisein other towns
Central High
High · Grades 9–12 · Norton
A+
676 students17:1Rate it →
Union High
High · Grades 9–12 · Big Stone Gap
B
564 students15:1Rate it →
Eastside High
High · Grades 9–12 · Coeburn
A−
418 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Minnick Education Center - Wise
Elementary · Grades 2–8
Private · Religious
13 students4:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Regional Learning Academy/Wise Co, Wise County Career-Technical Center and Wise Co. Alternative Ed. Ctr.).

Questions about Wise’s schools

Are Wise’s schools good?

By Virginia’s own tests, yes: the public schools Wise children attend outscore 97% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #4 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 96%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Wise in?

Wise County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,779 students in 11 schools (2024–25).

Where do Wise kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Central High, Union High and Eastside High.

What is Wise’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Wise County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Wise spend per student?

$13,256 in Wise County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Wise?

Yes: Minnick Education Center - Wise (religious, grades 2–8, 13 students).

Parents talk

What Wise families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Wise → 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.