Summary:
Dendron, Virginia is served by a single middle school, Luther P. Jackson Middle, which enrolls 201 students in grades 5–8 as part of Surry County Public Schools. This small, high-poverty school stands out for its excellent attendance and strong upper-grade academics, though recent test scores reveal some volatility and areas for improvement.
The school’s biggest strengths are in 8th grade math and science. In 2025–2026, 8th grade math proficiency reached 76.74% compared to the state average of 46.86%, a nearly 30-point advantage, while 8th grade science hit 84% versus the state’s 64.72%. Even the prior year, 8th grade science exceeded the state by 20 points. Chronic absenteeism is impressively low at just 9.2%, far better than the district (10.8%) and state (14.8%). The school also boasts a very favorable student-teacher ratio of 8.3 and spends $15,011 per student, reflecting small class sizes and a strong potential for individualized attention. With 92.54% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, these results are notable for a school serving a highly economically disadvantaged population.
However, not all subjects are thriving. Fifth grade science has lagged the state for two consecutive years, falling from 63.27% to 60.42% while the state stayed near 68.8%. The most concerning trend is 7th grade performance in 2025–2026: math plummeted from 67.44% to 44.68%, reading dropped from 79.59% to 66.67%, and civics fell from 67.35% to 56.86%. This drove the school’s statewide rank down from the 62nd percentile to the 44th percentile, lowering its star rating from 3 to 2. Because each grade has only about 50 students, a few students can shift scores dramatically. While the overall proficiency average slipped from roughly 72.6% to 68.2%, the school’s exceptional 8th grade results and strong attendance show that with targeted support in 5th and 7th grade, it can likely return to its previously stronger standing.
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