Four entries in Rutland County received overall grades from C+ to C− in Niche’s latest school district evaluations—the lowest marks in its county listing.
The 2027 evaluations give two a C+, one a C and one a C−. That tie brings this look beyond three entries, with report cards that reveal stronger marks in some areas alongside academic concerns.
Here’s what stands out, starting with the highest grade among the four. The two C+ entries are tied.
Mill River Unified School District — Overall Niche Grade: C+ (Tied)
Mill River’s reported graduation rate stands out against its proficiency figures.
The district serves Clarendon, Shrewsbury, Tinmouth and Wallingford, with elementary campuses in those communities and Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon, according to its official website.
Niche reports approximately 782 students and a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Its profile lists 47% reading proficiency and 25% math proficiency, attributing those figures to Vermont’s 2024–2025 assessments.
The same profile reports a 95% graduation rate, though it does not identify the graduating class year.
Those measures cover different students and milestones, so they shouldn’t be read as tracking one group’s progress.
Still, the contrast gives families something specific to explore: how students are supported through graduation, and where foundational academic skills need more attention.
Slate Valley Unified School District — Overall Niche Grade: C+ (Tied)
Slate Valley earns stronger marks for academics and teachers than its overall C+ might suggest.
The Fair Haven-based district serves Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Orwell and West Haven, spanning communities in Rutland and Addison counties.
Its Niche profile reports approximately 1,181 students, a 16-to-1 student-teacher ratio, and B− grades for both academics and teachers. Sports receive a B, while administration receives a C−.
Niche lists 56% reading proficiency and 43% math proficiency, identifying those results as coming from Vermont’s 2024–2025 testing program.
The category grades make this a mixed report card rather than a uniformly unfavorable one. They also reinforce the distinction behind the selection: Slate Valley and Mill River share an overall grade, even though the details underneath differ.
Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union — Overall Niche Grade: C
Greater Rutland requires a little translation: It’s a supervisory union overseeing multiple districts, although Niche includes it in its school district listing.
The union’s official school directory identifies member districts including Rutland Town, Quarry Valley, Wells-Springs and Ira. Its schools include campuses in communities such as Proctor, West Rutland and Poultney.
Niche’s profile reports approximately 1,054 students and a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio for the organization it evaluates.
The site lists 49% reading proficiency and 34% math proficiency, attributed to Vermont’s 2024–2025 assessments. That gap makes math support a useful topic for families to investigate.
Because the union encompasses several districts, its overall C is a broad summary. Parents will get a more useful picture by checking the particular school their child attends alongside this umbrella evaluation.
Otter Valley Unified School District — Overall Niche Grade: C−
Otter Valley receives the lowest overall grade in Niche’s Rutland County listing, with academics among the weaker parts of its report card.
The district serves Brandon, Goshen, Leicester, Pittsford, Sudbury and Whiting, with schools operating within the Rutland Northeast supervisory system.
Niche reports approximately 1,158 students and a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Academics and college preparation each receive a C−, while teachers receive a C.
Other categories score higher: Sports earn a B, and resources and facilities receive a B−.
The profile lists 44% reading proficiency and 30% math proficiency from Vermont’s 2024–2025 assessments.
Those results warrant close attention, while the stronger category grades point to parts of the school experience that the overall C− alone would leave unexplained.
What to Ask Next
Niche’s methodology combines academics with factors including teachers, diversity, resources, extracurricular opportunities and student and parent feedback. These comparisons use its overall letter grades, rather than numbered ranking positions.
The current county listing contains six entries, five with overall grades; Wells Spring’s ungraded entry is excluded. The four featured here include both entries tied at the C+ cutoff.
For families, the next step is to look at individual programs, student growth and available academic support. Student-teacher ratios provide context, but they aren’t average class sizes.
A useful school conversation starts where the report card leaves off: What is working, what needs to improve, and what help will students receive?
