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Very Good

#461 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 25% in state

Northwood Middle

Middle School · Smyth County Public Schools

156 Long Hollow Rd, Saltville, VA 24370

Enrollment

164

Student-Teacher

7.8:1

Score

7.7

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#461 of 1,851

In Saltville

#4 of 4

public schools

In district

#8 of 13

Smyth County Public Schools

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Northwood Middle

7.7/10

Middle School in Saltville · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Rich Valley Elementary

8.2/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Oak Point Elementary

5.6/10

8.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Northwood Middle

Northwood Middle is a public middle school in Saltville, VA, part of Smyth County Public Schools. Northwood Middle serves approximately 164 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 7.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Northwood Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #461 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Northwood Middle show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.6
  • VA avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

At 164 students, Northwood Middle is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 7.8:1 students to teachers, Northwood Middle sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Northwood Middle sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.7Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.48 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics6.7Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency59% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency82% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg-16.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+6.3 pts
Overall Proficiency71% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+7.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,196
Chronic Absenteeism14%

Northwood Middle — Students at Northwood Middle score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 64.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
66.4% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 79.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.8% (2025 SOL)

Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
80%
ELA
91%
2010
Math
78%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
63%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
54%
ELA
68%
2013
Math
55%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
76%
2016
Math
68%
ELA
84%
2017
ELA
87%
2018
Math
92%
ELA
82%
2019
Math
92%
ELA
82%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
54%
ELA
82.8%

* 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: 7.7/10.

How Northwood Middle Compares

See how Northwood Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
75th percentile in VA
Academic
6.7/10
Average
Growth
7.7/10
Very Good
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
8:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

156 Long Hollow Rd, Saltville, VA 24370

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northwood Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Chilhowie Middle (rated 8.3/10, 9.0 miles away, in nearby Chilhowie), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Glade Spring Middle (rated 7.9/10, 13.5 miles away, in nearby Glade Spring), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Richlands Middle (rated 6.8/10, 14.2 miles away, in nearby Richlands), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Saltville, see our Saltville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Rich Valley Elementary Saltville 0.2 mi 8.2
Oak Point Elementary Marion 8.2 mi 5.6
Chilhowie Elementary Chilhowie 8.3 mi 7.8
Chilhowie High Chilhowie 8.8 mi 7.5
Chilhowie Middle Chilhowie 9.0 mi 8.3
Saltville Elementary Saltville 7.7 mi 9.4
Northwood High Saltville 8.3 mi 8.6
Marion Middle Marion 9.0 mi 6.7
Marion Senior High Marion 9.2 mi 7.6
Marion Elementary Marion 9.3 mi 6.4
MAIN STREET SCHOOL Cedar Bluff 10.7 mi 6.9
FAITH ACADEMY Cedar Bluff 11.8 mi 4.9
Cedar Bluff Elementary Cedar Bluff 13.2 mi 7.2
Glade Spring Middle Glade Spring 13.5 mi 7.9
Atkins Elementary Atkins 12.2 mi 8.2
Richlands High Richlands 14.0 mi 7.5
Tazewell Intermediate North Tazewell 14.9 mi 7.4
Richlands Middle Richlands 14.2 mi 6.8
Richlands Elementary Richlands 14.2 mi 8.2
Tazewell Primary Tazewell 15.1 mi 8.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24370 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,309

Median Home Value

$100,700

Median Rent

$597/mo

Population

5,740

College Educated

18.8%

Homeownership

76.9%

Avg Commute

29.9 min

Poverty Rate

20.5%

Median Age

43.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Hardin Reynolds Memorial School Critz, VA 7.8
Rural Retreat Middle Rural Retreat, VA 7.9
Luther P. Jackson Middle Dendron, VA 8.1
Damascus Middle Damascus, VA 8.4
Lylburn Downing Middle Lexington, VA 8.4
Sussex Central Middle Stony Creek, VA 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northwood Middle

What grades does Northwood Middle serve?

Northwood Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Northwood Middle?

Northwood Middle has an enrollment of approximately 164 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwood Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwood Middle is 7.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwood Middle rank in VA?

Northwood Middle ranks #461 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Northwood Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwood Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Northwood Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwood Middle has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Northwood Middle a charter school?

No, Northwood Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Northwood Middle a Title I school?

No, Northwood Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northwood Middle?

100.0% of students at Northwood Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
2 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
164
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Smyth County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.0%

District

Smyth County Public Schools
District Enrollment
3,892
Schools in District
14
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,196
District Rank
#8 of 13

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