Excellent
#248 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 13% in state
Union Middle
Middle School · Wise County Public Schools · Big Stone Gap, VA
A Wise County Public Schools middle school where students score 16 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3137 Second Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
- Math 78% vs VA 68% (2025)
- Reading 83% vs VA 74% (2025)
- 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Union Middle score 81% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 81% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 80% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
93.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Union Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 18Car-Dependent
- Bike 10Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,676/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Big Stone Gap), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,303
Median home value
$161,300
Median rent
$808/mo
College educated
16.2%
Homeownership
70.2%
Poverty rate
16.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24219; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 in Wise County Public Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeburn MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | 5–8 | Not available | 338 | Compare → |
| L.f. Addington MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 9.4 | 5–8 | Not available | 409 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Wise County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #9 of 11
- District spending per student
- $13,973NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 23.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Union Middle is listed in Wise County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Union Middle
Union Middle is a public middle school in Big Stone Gap, VA, part of Wise County Public Schools, serving approximately 569 students in grades 5th-8th with a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #248 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Union Middle
What grades does Union Middle serve?
Union Middle serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Union Middle?
Union Middle has an enrollment of approximately 569 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Middle is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Union Middle rank in VA?
Union Middle ranks #248 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Union Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Union Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Union Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Union Middle has 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Union Middle a charter school?
No, Union Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Union Middle a Title I school?
No, Union Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Union Middle?
93.5% of students at Union 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 569
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 46
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Wise County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 7.9%
- Phone
- (276) 523-0195
- Area population (ZIP 24219)
- 10,416
- Area median age
- 44
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 24219; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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