Excellent
#111 of 1,850 schools in VA
Top 6% in state
Rich Valley Elementary
Elementary School · Smyth County Public Schools
196 Long Hollow Rd, Saltville, VA 24370
Enrollment
129
Student-Teacher
12.9:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
129
Student-Teacher
12.9:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Saltville
#2 of 4
public schools
Virginia elementary schools
#53 of 1,147
In district
#4 of 13
Smyth County Public Schools
Equity
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Rich Valley Elementary
Rich Valley Elementary is a public elementary school in Saltville, VA, part of the Smyth County Public Schools. The school serves approximately 129 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 94.1th percentile among VA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 81% proficiency in math, 8 points above the state average and 83% in reading/language arts, 11 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $49,309, where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a distant rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 129 students, Rich Valley Elementary 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, Rich Valley Elementary 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
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Rich Valley Elementary — Students at Rich Valley Elementary score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)
Based on 12 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: 8.8/10.
How Rich Valley Elementary Compares
See how Rich Valley Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 92% (2019) to 87% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 87% (2019) to 89% (2025).
Location
196 Long Hollow Rd, Saltville, VA 24370
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Rich Valley Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Saltville Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 7.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Chilhowie Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 8.2 miles away, in nearby Chilhowie), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Atkins Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 12.2 miles away, in nearby Atkins), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Saltville, see our Saltville schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 15.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Northwood Middle Saltville | 0.2 mi | 6.7 |
| Oak Point Elementary Marion | 8.1 mi | 5.1 |
| Chilhowie Elementary Chilhowie | 8.2 mi | 8.8 |
| Chilhowie High Chilhowie | 8.6 mi | 6.4 |
| Chilhowie Middle Chilhowie | 8.9 mi | 8.6 |
| Saltville Elementary Saltville | 7.6 mi | 9.4 |
| Northwood High Saltville | 8.2 mi | 7.5 |
| Marion Middle Marion | 8.9 mi | 6.1 |
| Marion Senior High Marion | 9.1 mi | 7.7 |
| Marion Elementary Marion | 9.2 mi | 8.0 |
| MAIN STREET SCHOOL Cedar Bluff | 10.8 mi | 6.9 |
| FAITH ACADEMY Cedar Bluff | 11.9 mi | 4.9 |
| Cedar Bluff Elementary Cedar Bluff | 13.4 mi | 5.9 |
| Glade Spring Middle Glade Spring | 13.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Atkins Elementary Atkins | 12.2 mi | 8.2 |
| Richlands High Richlands | 14.1 mi | 7.4 |
| Tazewell Intermediate North Tazewell | 15.0 mi | 4.9 |
| Richlands Middle Richlands | 14.3 mi | 6.3 |
| Richlands Elementary Richlands | 14.3 mi | 6.5 |
| Tazewell Primary Tazewell | 15.2 mi | 6.6 |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Rich Valley Elementary has a median household income of $49,309. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $100,700, with a median rent of $597/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 30 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 |
|---|---|
| AL FATIH ACADEMY Reston, VA | 8.6 |
| Abb's Valley-Boissevain Elementary Boissevain, VA | 8.6 |
| Hillsboro Charter Academy Purcellville, VA | 8.7 |
| Otter River Elementary Goode, VA | 8.5 |
| GREEN HEDGES SCHOOL Vienna, VA | 8.4 |
| SUNSET HILLS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Reston, VA | 8.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Rich Valley Elementary
What grades does Rich Valley Elementary serve?
Rich Valley Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Rich Valley Elementary?
Rich Valley Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 129 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rich Valley Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rich Valley Elementary is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Rich Valley Elementary rank in VA?
Rich Valley Elementary is ranked #111 out of 1,850 schools in VA.
What is Rich Valley Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Rich Valley Elementary has a composite rating of 8.6 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 Rich Valley Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Rich Valley Elementary has 81.0% math proficiency and 83.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Rich Valley Elementary a charter school?
No, Rich Valley Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Rich Valley Elementary a Title I school?
No, Rich Valley Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Rich Valley Elementary?
100.0% of students at Rich Valley Elementary 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
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 129
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Smyth County
- Phone
- (276) 624-3314
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Smyth County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 3,892
- Schools in District
- 14
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,196
- District Rank
- #4 of 13
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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