Summary:
Nottoway County Public Schools operates two middle schools in rural Southside Virginia — Nottoway Intermediate (grades 5–6, 272 students) and Nottoway Middle (grades 7–8, 269 students) — serving a nearly 100% economically disadvantaged population. The district overall ranks in the bottom 22% of Virginia divisions, but the two schools have very different profiles.
Nottoway Intermediate is the brighter spot. Its 6th grade math proficiency reached 66.67% in 2024–2025, above the state average, and stayed near the state average in 2025–2026 at 60%. The school also posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.0%, better than the state average of 14.8%, despite serving a very high-poverty population. Reading proficiency runs 47–57%, which is below the state's 72–73% range, but its attendance and 6th grade math are genuine strengths. By contrast, Nottoway Middle is in serious trouble: 7th grade math proficiency is just 12.77% and 8th grade math is 15.38%, compared to state averages above 46%. The school’s overall state ranking has fallen from the 19th percentile in 2023–2024 to the bottom 5% in 2025–2026. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 16.5% is above the state average, and reading proficiency is also roughly 20–25 points below the state.
One standout exception at Nottoway Middle is Algebra I: 91.67% proficiency in 2024–2025, essentially matching the state. That likely reflects a small, selected group of advanced 8th graders, not the general population. Resource allocation also differs sharply: the middle school spends $10,582 per student versus $7,565 at the intermediate school, and has a lower student-teacher ratio (10.6 vs. 13.4), yet its overall outcomes are weaker. The clearest takeaway for parents is a massive math drop-off between 6th grade (60–67% proficient) and 7th grade (~13% proficient). While both schools face real challenges, Nottoway Intermediate offers more stability in math and attendance, while Nottoway Middle needs urgent focus on math intervention and attendance.
Thank you for your feedback!