Excellent
#58 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 3% in state
Union Primary
Elementary School · Wise County Public Schools · Big Stone Gap, VA
A Wise County Public Schools elementary school where students score 23 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2945 Second Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
- Math 89% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 89% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Union Primary score 89% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 89% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 86% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 87% (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 31 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
89%
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 Primary 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 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat 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
4 in Wise County Public Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeburn PrimaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.3 | PK–4 | Not available | 443 | Compare → |
| J.w. Adams CombinedEnrollment path unverified | 9.6 | PK–8 | Not available | 512 | Compare → |
| St. Paul ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.7 | PK–8 | Not available | 542 | Compare → |
| Wise PrimaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–4 | Not available | 616 | 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
- #6 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 Primary is listed in Wise County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Union Primary
Union Primary is a public elementary school in Big Stone Gap, VA, part of Wise County Public Schools, serving approximately 830 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #58 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 830
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 62
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Wise County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 8.4%
- Phone
- (276) 523-4900
- 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
Related reading
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