- Enrollment
- 809
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Big Stone Gap, VA
Union High
Federal NCES profile for Union High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510408001792
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Union High earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Big Stone Gap · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 85.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Union High has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Union High ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Big Stone Gap, VA.
School address
District: Wise County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510408001792 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
Union High shrank from 601 students in 2022-23 to 567 in 2023-24 (-5.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 37.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-34 students YoY 510408001792 · Big Stone Gap, VA High · MID · TRAD
564 enr · 14.8:1 · 85.5% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Union Primary (809 students)
Union High shrank from 601 students in 2022-23 to 567 in 2023-24 (-5.7%). Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 37.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Union High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Union Primary
Union Primary
809 students
- Central High
Central High
676 students
- Wise Primary
Wise Primary
603 students
- This school
Union High
564 students
- Union Middle
Union Middle
561 students
- J.W. Adams Com
J.W. Adams Combined
523 students
What this shows Union High reports 564 students on the CCD universe file.
How Union High compares
Union High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.5% | ▲ 48% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 564 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
564
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
85.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 66% in Virginia - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,973
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 282 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
73
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 90.8%
African American 4.3%
Two or More 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%
Largest group: White at 90.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.2, Union High is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wise County Public Schools reports $13,973 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Union High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Primary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wise Primary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Union Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| J.W. Adams Combined | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Union High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 676
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 603
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 523
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~564 students)
Frequently asked questions about Union High
How many students attend Union High?
Union High has 564 students enrolled. It is a high school in Big Stone Gap, VA. CCD year-over-year: 601 (2022-23) → 567 (2023-24), down 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union High?
The student-teacher ratio at Union High is 14.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Union High?
85.5% of students at Union High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Union High?
The largest demographic group at Union High is White at 90.8% of enrollment, in Big Stone Gap, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Union High?
Union High has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Union High rank among public schools in Big Stone Gap?
By Resource Investment Index, Union High ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Big Stone Gap, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Wise County Public Schools?
Besides Union High, Wise County Public Schools also operates Union Primary (809 students), Central High (676 students), and Wise Primary (603 students). See the Wise County Public Schools district page for the complete list.