Parry McCluer High

Located at 100 Bradford Drive, in Buena Vista, Virginia, Parry McCluer High is a tiny 9-12 campus that educates 315 students (grades 8 through 12), part of Buena Vista City Public Schools. Enrollment runs roughly 74% smaller than the state mean of about 1,213.

Parry McCluer High is one of 4 schools operated by Buena Vista City Public Schools, a district that caters to 886 students overall.

Looking at the student body, Parry McCluer High logs that nearly all students (83%) are White; the rest consists of 6% Black, 5% Hispanic, 4% multiracial. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

On the income-and-resources front, Staff filings list 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 12.4:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Parry McCluer High tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 92% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Parry McCluer High ranks in the top 10% of Virginia public schools. The BeatsExpectations model, a per-state regression of composite proficiency on FRL share, predicts schools with this student profile to land around 63.0%; Parry McCluer High posts 77.8%, +14.8 points above that line.

In the broader community, census data for Buena Vista city shows median household income runs about $57,833, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 15%. In all, Buena Vista city runs 5 public schools (combined enrollment of about 886 students), of which Parry McCluer High is one.

The closest other public school is Enderly Heights Elementary, roughly 0.4 miles away. Within five miles, there are 4 other public schools. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Parry McCluer High ranks 4th on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 77.6%.

Geographically, the school is in a town-based area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged down 19%: 389 students in 2018 compared to 315 in 2025. The White share of enrollment decreased from 90% to 83% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 14.1:1 in 2018 to 12.4:1 today.

On this page, posts here usually surface around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.