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Excellent

#58 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 3% in state

Union Primary

Elementary School · Wise County Public Schools

2945 Second Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219

Enrollment

830

Student-Teacher

13.4:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#58 of 1,851

In Big Stone Gap

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#6 of 11

Wise County Public Schools

Equity

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Union Primary

9.1/10

Elementary School in Big Stone Gap · grades Pre-K – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Union Middle

8.3/10

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

Union High

8.0/10

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

About Union Primary

Union Primary is a public elementary school in Big Stone Gap, VA, part of Wise County Public Schools. Union Primary serves approximately 830 students, and covers grades Pre-K-4th, and has a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Union Primary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #58 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Union Primary show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 9.3
  • VA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change+0.02 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency89% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency89% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+15.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.3 pts
Overall Proficiency89% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)66% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+22.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile92th
Resources & Environment7.9Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,973
Chronic Absenteeism8.4%

Union Primary — Students at Union Primary score 89% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

89%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 86.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.0% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 86.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.2% (2025 SOL)

Based on 31 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
93%
ELA
91%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
73%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
76%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
86%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
86%
ELA
87%
2015
Math
88%
ELA
84%
2016
Math
90%
ELA
87%
2017
ELA
89%
2018
Math
97%
ELA
90%
2019
Math
97%
ELA
90%
2020*
Math
72%
ELA
79%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
79%
2025
Math
89%
ELA
88.7%

* 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: 9.3/10.

How Union Primary Compares

See how Union Primary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.1/10
97th percentile in VA
Academic
9.5/10
Excellent
Growth
9.3/10
Excellent
Environment
7.9/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
89%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
62 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
8.4%

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

2945 Second Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Union Primary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Wise Primary (rated 8.9/10, 10.9 miles away, in nearby Wise), with a very similar rating. Another option is Dryden Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 13.4 miles away, in nearby Dryden), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Norton Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 7.5 miles away, in nearby Norton), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Big Stone Gap, see our Big Stone Gap schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 17.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Union Middle Big Stone Gap 0.2 mi 8.3
Union High Big Stone Gap 0.3 mi 8.0
J.I. Burton High Norton 6.6 mi 8.4
Norton Elementary Norton 7.5 mi 8.4
POWELL VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Dryden 8.5 mi
Rye Cove High Duffield 10.6 mi 7.1
Central High Norton 9.2 mi 7.2
Rye Cove Intermediate Clinchport 10.8 mi 6.2
Arlie Boggs Elementary School Eolia 12.2 mi 6.1
Wise Primary Wise 10.9 mi 8.9
Duffield-Pattonsville Primary Duffield 12.6 mi 8.2
L.F. Addington Middle Wise 10.9 mi 9.4
MINNICK EDUCATION CENTER - WISE Wise 11.4 mi
Dryden Elementary Dryden 13.4 mi 8.6
Cowan Elementary School Whitesburg 15.6 mi 5.5
Letcher County Alternative Education Ctr Whitesburg 16.3 mi
Letcher County Central High School Whitesburg 16.5 mi 7.2
Cumberland Elementary School Cumberland 14.5 mi 6.5
Whitesburg Middle School Whitesburg 17.1 mi 7.5
West Whitesburg Elementary School Whitesburg 17.2 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24219 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$52,303

Median Home Value

$161,300

Median Rent

$808/mo

Population

10,416

College Educated

16.2%

Homeownership

70.2%

Poverty Rate

16.2%

Median Age

44

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Discovery Elementary Arlington, VA 9.1
Haycock Elementary Falls Church, VA 9.1
Kent Gardens Elementary Mclean, VA 9.1
Brownsville Elementary Crozet, VA 9.2
Colvin Run Elementary Vienna, VA 9.2
Forestville Elementary Great Falls, VA 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Union Primary

What grades does Union Primary serve?

Union Primary serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.

How many students attend Union Primary?

Union Primary has an enrollment of approximately 830 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Primary?

The student-teacher ratio at Union Primary is 13.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Union Primary rank in VA?

Union Primary ranks #58 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Union Primary's MySchoolScout rating?

Union Primary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Primary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Union Primary has 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Union Primary a charter school?

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

Is Union Primary a Title I school?

No, Union Primary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Union Primary?

89.0% of students at Union Primary 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
20 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
830
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
62
Free/Reduced Lunch
89.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Wise County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
8.4%

District

Wise County Public Schools
District Enrollment
5,883
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,973
District Rank
#6 of 11

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