Public School Review - Established 2003

Union High School vs. Central High School

Should you attend Union High School or Central High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Union High School
322 Powell Valley Road
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Central High School
5000 Warrior Drive
Norton, VA 24273
: 
10/
10
Top 5%
Top Rankings

Union High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Virginia for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)

Central High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Virginia for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 601 students in grades 9-12, Union High School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Virginia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 55-59% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 54%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 75-79% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 69%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Virginia state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 10% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Virginia state average of 55% (majority Black).
Serving 674 students in grades 9-12, Central High School ranks in the top 5% of all schools in Virginia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 5%, and reading proficiency is top 5%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 85-89% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 54%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 85-89% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 69%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Virginia state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is lower than the Virginia state average of 55% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
601 students
674 students
This chart displays total students of Union High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
55% | 45%
54% | 46%
This chart displays gender of Union High School
This chart displays gender of Central High School
Total Classroom Teachers
38 teachers
42 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Union High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Union High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Central High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#635 out of 1792 schools in VA
(Top 50%)
#65 out of 1792 schools in VA
(Top 5%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Union High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Central High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
55-59%
(Top 50% in VA)(20-21 School Year Data)
85-89%
(Top 5% in VA)(20-21 School Year Data)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Union High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
75-79%
(Top 30% in VA)(20-21 School Year Data)
85-89%
(Top 10% in VA)(20-21 School Year Data)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Union High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
70-74%
(Top 20% in VA)(20-21 School Year Data)
85-89%
(Top 5% in VA)(20-21 School Year Data)
≥95%
(Top 20% in VA)
≥95%
(Top 20% in VA)
This chart displays graduation rate of Union High School and public school graduation rate of Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Central High School and public school graduation rate of Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Union High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Central High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
163
156
Grade 10 Students
166
190
Grade 11 Students
127
162
Grade 12 Students
145
166

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Union High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Central High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
3%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Union High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Central High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
4%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Union High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Central High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
90%
94%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Union High School and the percentage of White public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Central High School and the percentage of White public school students in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Union High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Central High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.19
0.12
This chart displays the diversity score of Union High School and the public school average diversity score of Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Central High School and the public school average diversity score of Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
86%
81%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Union High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Virginia by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
(20-21 School Year Data)
4%
(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Union High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
 
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