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Very Good

#509 of 1,850 schools in VA

Top 28% in state

Riverheads High

High School · Augusta County Public Schools

19 Howardsville Rd, Staunton, VA 24401

Enrollment

447

Student-Teacher

13.1:1

Score

7.3

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Staunton

#5 of 10

public schools

Virginia high schools

#113 of 323

In district

#1 of 18

Augusta County Public Schools

Academic performance

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Riverheads High

Riverheads High serves 447 students in grades 9-12 in Staunton, Virginia, standing out as one of the state's top-performing public high schools. With a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranking 106th out of 1,856 Virginia schools, this regular public school demonstrates exceptional academic achievement that places it in the 94th percentile statewide. Students benefit from personalized attention with a 13.1-to-1 student-teacher ratio among 34 full-time equivalent teachers.

The school's academic excellence shines through in standardized testing, where 83% of students score proficient or above in English Language Arts and an impressive 87% achieve proficiency in mathematics. These strong results contribute to the school's outstanding 9.5 out of 10 academic score. The surrounding community in the 24401 ZIP code reflects a stable, middle-class area with a median household income of $60,655 and median home values around $236,100.

About 30% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate remains relatively low at 11.2% among the area's 37,375 residents. Riverheads High operates in a rural setting along Howardsville Road, providing students with a close-knit educational environment that combines small-school personal attention with impressive academic outcomes in Virginia's scenic Augusta County countryside.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Riverheads 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

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.5Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.17 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.7Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency96%
Reading/ELA Proficiency91%
Math vs. State Avg+20.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.3 pts
Overall Proficiency94%
Expected (poverty-adj.)76%
vs. Expected+17.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile95th
College Readiness3.9Fair30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation8.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.5Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,961

Riverheads High — Students at Riverheads High score 94% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 76%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 87.7%
School
State
75.4%
ELA Proficiency 83.3%
School
State
75.7%

Based on 6 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
95%
ELA
82%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2025
Math
96%
ELA
91%

* 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: 9.5/10.

How Riverheads High Compares

See how Riverheads High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
73th percentile in VA
Academic
9.7/10
9.7/10
Growth
9.5/10
Above average
Environment
6.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
64%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers

Location

19 Howardsville Rd, Staunton, VA 24401

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Riverheads High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. STUART HALL SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 8.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Stuarts Draft High (rated 5.9/10, 7.0 miles away, in nearby Stuarts Draft), a more accessible option. Additionally, Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind High (rated 5.7/10, 9.1 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Staunton, see our Staunton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Riverheads Elementary Staunton 0.2 mi 3.4
PILGRIM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Stuarts Draft 4.9 mi 3.8
Guy K. Stump Elementary Stuarts Draft 5.7 mi 3.4
KEYS ACADEMY - AUGUSTA/STUARTS DRAFT Stuarts Draft 5.8 mi
RIDGEVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Stuarts Draft 6.1 mi 5.7
Beverley Manor Middle Staunton 8.1 mi 3.4
C.F. RICHARDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Staunton 7.9 mi 5.9
Bessie Weller Elementary Staunton 8.2 mi 8.3
Stuarts Draft High Stuarts Draft 7.0 mi 5.9
Stuarts Draft Middle Stuarts Draft 7.1 mi 5.6
Stuarts Draft Elementary Stuarts Draft 7.3 mi 6.9
Shelburne Middle Staunton 9.0 mi 8.4
STUART HALL SCHOOL Staunton 8.8 mi 7.9
Arthur R. Ware Elementary Staunton 9.1 mi 7.3
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Staunton 8.9 mi 5.7
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE Staunton 9.2 mi 5.8
ELK HILL STAUNTON SCHOOL Staunton 9.0 mi 6.2
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind High Staunton 9.1 mi 5.7
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Middle Staunton 9.1 mi
Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Elementary Staunton 9.1 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24401 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,746

Median Home Value

$253,700

Median Rent

$1,002/mo

Population

37,720

College Educated

32.2%

Homeownership

63.6%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

11.3%

Median Age

44.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Riverheads High has a median household income of $63,746. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $253,700, with a median rent of $1,002/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.3%. The average commute for residents is 23 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
Radford High Radford, VA 7.3
Rye Cove High Duffield, VA 7.3
BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY Richmond, VA 7.2
Northumberland High Heathsville, VA 7.2
Parry McCluer High Buena Vista, VA 7.2
Brunswick High Lawrenceville, VA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Riverheads High

What grades does Riverheads High serve?

Riverheads High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Riverheads High?

Riverheads High has an enrollment of approximately 447 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Riverheads High?

The student-teacher ratio at Riverheads High is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Riverheads High rank in VA?

Riverheads High is ranked #509 out of 1,850 schools in VA.

What is Riverheads High's MySchoolScout rating?

Riverheads High has a composite rating of 7.3 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 Riverheads High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Riverheads High has 87.7% math proficiency and 83.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Riverheads High a charter school?

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

Is Riverheads High a Title I school?

No, Riverheads High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Riverheads High?

64.0% of students at Riverheads 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
12 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,690/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
447
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Augusta County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Augusta County Public Schools
District Enrollment
10,139
Schools in District
18
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,991
District Rank
#1 of 18

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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