Summary:
Surry County Public Schools serves a single middle school, Luther P. Jackson Middle in Dendron, Virginia, which enrolls 201 students across grades 5 through 8 in a high-poverty, rural area where over 92% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Since this is the only middle school in the district, its 6th–8th grade results are identical to the district's, meaning the school essentially defines the district's secondary academic profile.
Luther P. Jackson Middle currently ranks in the 44th percentile statewide (232 of 416 schools, 2 stars), a noticeable drop from the 62nd percentile (3 stars) the prior year. The school's standout strength is 8th grade STEM: math proficiency hit 76.74% in 2025-2026 versus 46.86% statewide, and science reached 84% versus 64.72% statewide. However, a sharp 7th grade slump drove the overall decline, with math falling from 67.44% to 44.68%, reading from 79.59% to 66.67%, and civics from 67.35% to 56.86% year over year. The school's overall SOL proficiency average slipped from 72.6% to 68.2%, narrowing its edge over the state from +6.1 points to just +1.9 points.
Despite the recent dip, the school maintains notable advantages. Chronic absenteeism is just 9.2% versus 14.8% statewide, the student-teacher ratio is a low 8.3, and per-pupil spending is $15,011. A persistent weakness is 5th grade science, which has trailed the state for two consecutive years (60.42% versus 68.75% in 2025-2026), even as 8th grade science excels—suggesting strong growth in later grades. With roughly 50 students per grade, year-to-year swings can reflect cohort differences rather than school-wide changes. The 7th grade decline may be a temporary cohort effect, but targeted support in math, reading, and civics will be critical to restoring the school's previous 3-star rating.
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