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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

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 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.49 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.1Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency87%
Reading/ELA Proficiency89%
Math vs. State Avg+13.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.3 pts
Overall Proficiency88%
Expected (poverty-adj.)67%
vs. Expected+21.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.4Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,836

Rich Valley Elementary — Students at Rich Valley Elementary score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

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 81.0%
School
State
73.5%
ELA Proficiency 83.0%
School
State
72.2%

Based on 12 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
86.8%
ELA
88.5%

* 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.

Overall Score
8.6/10
94th percentile in VA
Academic
9.1/10
9.1/10
Growth
8.8/10
Above average
Environment
7.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
10 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
8 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Average (510/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Saltville). Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

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 methodology

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