Education Statistics

Public Schools

The Russell County School System is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The School System is comprised of three secondary schools, one vocational/technical school, and ten elementary schools. The fourteen county schools offer LD/ED programs, speech therapy, as well as gifted and special education programs. The vocational school offers programs in auto body repair, auto machanics, building trades, business education, cosmetology, electrical, industrial maintenance, nursing assistance, and welding. The dropout for grades 7-12 was 3.8% compared to the state rate of 4.0%.

The pupil/teacher ratio is 15.7 to 1. The minimal pay rate for instructional personnel is $20,454; the top rate for a teacher with a bachelor's degree is $29,057; and a master's degree pays an additional $1,465.

Higher Education

Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands, and Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap offer two-year degree programs in technical and occupational subjects and the first two years of college level subjects in the arts and sciences. Day and evening classes are offered both on and off campus.

Also conveniently located are:

• Virginia Highlands Community College
• UVA College at Wise in Wise, VA
• Emory & Henry College in Emory, VA
• VA Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA
• Radford University in Radford, VA
• King College in Bristol, VA
• East TN State University, Johnson City, TN
• Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
• University of Tennessee, Knowville, TN