Holston High School has highest school performance score in Virginia

Holston High School has achieved the highest school performance score in the entire state of Virginia, fueling a fierce community debate over a proposed school consolidation. The Virginia Department of Education announced Wednesday that Holston outperformed more than 1,800 schools statewide for the 2025-2026 school year, factoring test scores, academic growth, and attendance. All four Washington County high schools ranked in the top 17. In recent months, officials had proposed a plan to consolidate Holston with Patrick Henry High School. Local leaders and residents are now using this data to fight the merger. Superintendent Keith Perrigan stressed that no final decisions have been made, noting that consolidation is not part of the county’s current two-year plan. Officials are currently focused on a proposed one percent sales tax referendum, tentatively scheduled for the April 2027 ballot, to fund hundreds of millions of dollars in school facility repairs and upgrades.