Average
#687 of 1,850 schools in VA
Top 37% in state
Council High
High School · Buchanan County Public Schools
7802 Helen Henderson Hwy, Honaker, VA 24260
Enrollment
111
Student-Teacher
11.1:1
Score
6.9
Grades
8th – 12th
Enrollment
111
Student-Teacher
11.1:1
Score
6.9
Grades
8th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Honaker
#2 of 4
public schools
Virginia high schools
#146 of 323
In district
#4 of 8
Buchanan County Public Schools
Equity
9.1 / 10
Exceptional
About Council High
Council High serves students in grades 8 through 12 in the rural community of Honaker, Virginia, with an enrollment of 111 students. This public high school maintains an impressive student-teacher ratio of 11.1:1 with 10 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and close relationships between educators and students. The school has earned recognition for its performance, receiving a 7.3 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #41 out of 1,856 schools statewide, placing it in the 98th percentile among Virginia schools.
This strong ranking reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence despite serving a community facing economic challenges. Council High operates in Buchanan County, where the median household income is $38,136 and nearly a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. The school serves families in an area where only 9% of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher, making the institution's high performance particularly noteworthy as it works to expand educational opportunities for its students.
Located at 7802 Helen Henderson Highway, Council High sits in Virginia's rural landscape, where the median home value is $96,600 and the surrounding ZIP code has a population of about 5,073 residents. The school provides an intimate educational environment within the close-knit Appalachian community it serves.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 111 students, Council High is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Council High may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Council High — Students at Council High score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from VA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.3/10.
How Council High Compares
See how Council High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 87% (2019) to 85% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 64.5% (2019) to 71% (2025).
Location
7802 Helen Henderson Hwy, Honaker, VA 24260
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Council High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Honaker High (rated 7.7/10, 7.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Lebanon High (rated 7.4/10, 13.5 miles away, in nearby Lebanon), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Twin Valley High (rated 6.0/10, 14.3 miles away, in nearby Pilgrim Knob), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Honaker, see our Honaker schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 16.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Council Elementary/Middle Honaker | 0.2 mi | 4.3 |
| Honaker High Honaker | 7.1 mi | 7.7 |
| Honaker Elementary Honaker | 8.5 mi | 5.9 |
| Twin Valley Elementary/Middle Oakwood | 10.2 mi | 7.4 |
| KEEN MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Oakwood | 10.2 mi | 4.8 |
| Swords Creek Elementary Swords Creek | 9.2 mi | 3.4 |
| Lebanon Primary Lebanon | 12.3 mi | 6.6 |
| Lebanon Elementary Lebanon | 12.6 mi | 4.7 |
| Lebanon Middle Lebanon | 12.6 mi | 4.3 |
| Lebanon High Lebanon | 13.5 mi | 7.4 |
| MOUNTAIN MISSION SCHOOL Grundy | 13.9 mi | 8.1 |
| Grundy High Grundy | 13.9 mi | 5.6 |
| Twin Valley High Pilgrim Knob | 14.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Belfast Elementary Rosedale | 13.7 mi | 7.9 |
| Riverview Elementary/Middle Grundy | 16.1 mi | 7.4 |
| THE LEARNING CENTER Castlewood | 17.7 mi | 4.6 |
| St. Paul Elementary St. Paul | 17.5 mi | 8.8 |
| MAIN STREET SCHOOL Cedar Bluff | 16.6 mi | 6.9 |
| Copper Creek Elementary Castlewood | 19.3 mi | 6.5 |
| Richlands Elementary Richlands | 16.5 mi | 6.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 24260 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$39,678
Median Home Value
$96,500
Median Rent
$654/mo
Population
5,070
College Educated
9.2%
Homeownership
70.6%
Avg Commute
33.3 min
Poverty Rate
23.6%
Median Age
44
Community Profile
The community surrounding Council High has a median household income of $39,678. It is a community where 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $96,500, with a median rent of $654/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.6%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highland High Monterey, VA | 6.8 |
| CHATHAM HALL Chatham, VA | 7.3 |
| THE NEW SCHOOL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Fairfax, VA | 7.3 |
| MASSANUTTEN MILITARY ACADEMY Woodstock, VA | 6.3 |
| York River Academy Yorktown, VA | 6.3 |
| Mountain View High Centreville, VA | 6.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Council High
What grades does Council High serve?
Council High serves students in grades 8th through 12th.
How many students attend Council High?
Council High has an enrollment of approximately 111 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Council High?
The student-teacher ratio at Council High is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Council High rank in VA?
Council High is ranked #687 out of 1,850 schools in VA.
What is Council High's MySchoolScout rating?
Council High has a composite rating of 6.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Council High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Council High has 74.9% math proficiency and 73.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Council High a charter school?
No, Council High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Council High a Title I school?
No, Council High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Council High?
99.1% of students at Council High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- County Safety
- Elevated (1,123/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 8th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 111
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Buchanan County
- Phone
- (276) 859-9329
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Buchanan County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 2,378
- Schools in District
- 9
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,191
- District Rank
- #4 of 8
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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