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Forest Middle

Q: Is Forest Middle a good school?

Forest Middle ranks 44 th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Forest Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 854 students attended Forest Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Forest Middle?

Students at Forest Middle are 78% White, 7% African American, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

Q: What high school do graduates of Forest Middle attend?

Students who attend Forest Middle usually go on to attend Jefferson Forest High

Public Grades 6-8

44^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 89% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Forest Middle serves 854 students in grades 6–8 in Forest, Virginia, part of Bedford County Public Schools, and it consistently ranks among the strongest middle schools in the state. In the 2025–2026 ranking year, the school placed 44th out of 416 Virginia middle schools — the 89th percentile with a 4-star rating. Forest is a clear outlier in the region: most nearby middle schools rank far lower, with Rustburg Middle at the 56th percentile, Staunton River Middle at the 50th, and Lynchburg City schools such as Sandusky Middle near the bottom of the state.

Academically, the school excels across nearly every subject. Reading proficiency is strong at every grade level — 87.5% for 6th grade, 83.4% for 7th grade, and 87.25% for 8th grade — all well above state averages. In science, geography, and civics, Forest beats district and state averages by wide margins; 8th-grade geography proficiency (88.85%) is more than 20 points above the state average. The math story is interesting: while standard grade-level math proficiency declines as students advance (from 81% in 6th grade to 53% in 8th grade), every student taking Algebra I or Geometry scores proficient, reflecting a strong accelerated-math pipeline. Chronic absenteeism is also low at 10.3% in 2024–2025, compared with the state rate of 14.8% and rates of 20–34% at several nearby schools.

The student population at Forest Middle differs sharply from neighboring schools. Only about 20% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, while Brookville Middle, Monelison Middle, and others in the region are above 75%. The school is also efficient: at $8,018 per student, spending is lower than most surrounding schools, and the student–teacher ratio of 13.9 is higher. Subgroup performance is generally strong — Asian students ranked #1 in Virginia for two straight years, and Hispanic students sit in the 90th percentile — though multiracial and disabled students show more moderate results. Overall, Forest Middle stands apart from nearly every school in Bedford County Public Schools, Campbell County Public Schools, Amherst County Public Schools, and Lynchburg City Public Schools, producing dramatically better academic outcomes.

854

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,999

Per pupil spending ?

20.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

100 Ashwood Dr
Forest, VA 24551

(434) 525-6630

District: Bedford County Public Schools

Students who attend Forest Middle usually attend:

High:

Jefferson Forest High

Feeder schools for Forest Middle:

Elementary:	Boonsboro Elementary
	Forest Elementary
	New London Academy Elementary
	Otter River Elementary
	More...
	Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.8%

African American:

7.4%

Hispanic:

5.3%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Forest Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 71st percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (83% vs 70% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Virginia middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school83%

District avg75%

Virginia avg70%

44^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Middle Schools in the Bedford County Public Schools

35^th of 131Bedford County Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	80.5	44 of 416	89.4%	★★★★☆
2025	81.4	39 of 419	90.7%	★★★★★
2024	78.6	68 of 417	83.7%	★★★★☆
2023	72.6	110 of 422	73.9%	★★★★☆
2022	69.4	95 of 415	77.1%	★★★★☆
2021	89.2	6 of 419	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	68.2	96 of 424	77.4%	★★★★☆
2018	65.3	101 of 413	75.5%	★★★★☆
2017	66.1	88 of 415	78.8%	★★★★☆
2016	62.0	118 of 409	71.1%	★★★★☆
2015	55.1	168 of 412	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	56.4	147 of 416	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.8	124 of 416	70.2%	★★★★☆
2012	56.8	144 of 413	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.0	82 of 413	80.1%	★★★★☆
2010	62.3	115 of 408	71.8%	★★★★☆
2009	58.3	133 of 390	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.2	70 of 391	82.1%	★★★★☆
2007	67.0	86 of 387	77.8%	★★★★☆
2006	67.5	76 of 383	80.2%	★★★★☆
2005	77.5	47 of 340	86.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	79 of 297	73.4%	★★★★☆
2025	67.8	82 of 297	72.4%	★★★★☆
2024	68.4	79 of 299	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	57.7	124 of 298	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	87.0	1 of 137	99.3%	★★★★★
2025	89.4	1 of 136	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	78.6	10 of 128	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	71.7	25 of 132	81.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	64.8	76 of 292	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	63.0	88 of 281	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.4	70 of 278	74.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	80.2	13 of 122	89.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	79.4	45 of 409	89.0%	★★★★☆
2025	80.1	38 of 403	90.6%	★★★★★
2024	78.8	53 of 407	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	74.6	90 of 411	78.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	84.4	27 of 283	90.5%	★★★★★
2025	77.7	40 of 279	85.7%	★★★★☆
2024	64.6	83 of 272	69.5%	★★★★☆
2023	79.4	35 of 275	87.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.9	74 of 401	81.5%	★★★★☆
2025	70.9	86 of 403	78.7%	★★★★☆
2024	79.5	49 of 402	87.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	80.1	49 of 410	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	82.3	36 of 404	91.1%	★★★★★
2024	77.9	63 of 407	84.5%	★★★★☆
2023	70.1	114 of 409	72.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	64.9	76 of 249	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.5	124 of 244	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.5	93 of 237	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.7	126 of 231	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	72.4	73 of 400	81.8%	★★★★☆
2025	75.6	58 of 400	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	69 of 396	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	65.2	130 of 402	67.7%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Asian (2026)99th percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)90th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2024)89th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)89th percentile~ school

Male (2026)88th percentile~ school

White (2026)82nd percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)82nd percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2026)74th percentile-15 vs school

African American (2026)73rd percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)69th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+3 vs state

Algebra I100%+5 vs state

Geography89%+21 vs state

Civics and Economics86%+13 vs state

English Reading86%+13 vs state

Science82%+18 vs state

Mathematics69%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Forest Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Geometry (2026)		SOL Algebra I (2026)			SOL Algebra II (2026)	SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL Geography (2026)	SOL Civics and Economics (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Geometry 7th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 6th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Geography 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Forest Middle	Public	6-8	100 Ashwood Dr	Forest	24551	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 525-6630	854	61	13.9	20.5%	664 (77.8%)	63 (7.4%)	45 (5.3%)	36 (4.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (5.2%)	80.5	44^th of 416 public middle schools	89.4%		81.4	39^th of 419 public middle schools	90.7%	5	≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	100.0	≥ 50%	81.1	60.3	52.6	82.4	≥ 50%	87.5	83.4	87.3	88.9	86.3	≥ 50%	$8,999	$376	$8,623
Brookville Middle	Public	6-8	320 Bee Dr	Lynchburg	24502	Lynchburg city	Campbell County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 239-9267	648	65	9.9	77.6%	418 (64.5%)	88 (13.6%)	79 (12.2%)	15 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (7.3%)	55.8	195^th of 416 public middle schools	53.1%		52.7	214^th of 419 public middle schools	48.9%	19		≥ 50%		≥ 50%	97.4		80.2	76.3	33.3	63.5		71.4	76.5	69.7			67.6	$9,130	$216	$8,914
Sandusky Middle	Public	6-8	805 Chinook Place	Lynchburg	24502	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 515-5350	583	42	13.8	96.9%	131 (22.5%)	322 (55.2%)	54 (9.3%)	11 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (11.1%)	5.2	406^th of 416 public middle schools	2.4%		5.6	404^th of 419 public middle schools	3.6%	2				≥ 50%	91.9		25.0	12.5	18.6	32.7	82.6	51.4	39.6	48.4	37.9	29.8	≥ 50%	$10,422	$1,589	$8,833
Linkhorne Middle	Public	6-8	2525 Linkhorne Dr	Lynchburg	24503	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 515-5330	519	44	11.7	94.6%	186 (35.8%)	247 (47.6%)	35 (6.7%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (8.9%)	12.1	389^th of 416 public middle schools	6.5%		10.7	392^nd of 419 public middle schools	6.4%	3				517.0	90.2	100.0	7.4	18.8	10.3	19.3	88.7	46.1	60.8	57.9	45.8	56.0	< 50%	$12,032	$1,616	$10,417
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation	Public, Magnet	6-8	1200 1208 Polk St	Lynchburg	24504	Lynchburg city	Lynchburg City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(434) 515-5310	531	46	11.5	97.2%	165 (31.1%)	249 (46.9%)	66 (12.4%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (8.9%)	13	386^th of 416 public middle schools	7.2%		14.5	384^th of 419 public middle schools	8.4%	2				543.0	92.3	413.0	40.4	10.6	36.7	17.4	81.3	61.1	57.1	54.6	44.1	56.0	≥ 50%	$11,011	$1,421	$9,590
Liberty Middle	Public	6-8	1237 Lacey Putney Way	Bedford	24523	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 586-7735	518	41	12.6	86.9%	376 (72.6%)	82 (15.8%)	23 (4.4%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.2%)	48.8	237^th of 416 public middle schools	43.0%		59.8	177^th of 419 public middle schools	57.8%	60		452.0	≥ 50%	100.0	98.1		75.6	55.0	50.5	58.9		78.8	73.3	68.1	60.4	66.7	< 50%	$10,172	$501	$9,671
Monelison Middle	Public	6-8	257 Trojan Rd	Madison Heights	24572	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 846-1307	469	40	11.6	82.5%	277 (59.1%)	114 (24.3%)	29 (6.2%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.1%)	2 (0.4%)	41 (8.7%)	38	294^th of 416 public middle schools	29.3%		26.7	342^nd of 419 public middle schools	18.4%	48				100.0	98.0		59.4	37.4	50.5	52.8		66.2	75.5	70.6	61.9	64.1		$11,839	$366	$11,473
Rustburg Middle	Public	6-8	555 Village Highway	Rustburg	24588	Campbell County	Campbell County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 332-5141	626	60	10.4	78.0%	480 (76.7%)	71 (11.3%)	28 (4.5%)	9 (1.4%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (5.3%)	57.8	183^rd of 416 public middle schools	56.0%		50.6	219^th of 419 public middle schools	47.7%	36					94.5		79.3	56.8	51.5	66.5		79.3	70.0	69.4			80.5	$9,424	$242	$9,182
Staunton River Middle	Public	6-8	1293 Golden Eagle Drive	Moneta	24121	Bedford County	Bedford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 297-4152	612	43	14.3	87.4%	516 (84.3%)	31 (5.1%)	31 (5.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (4.9%)	54	209^th of 416 public middle schools	49.8%		48.4	231^st of 419 public middle schools	44.9%	22		100.0		100.0	94.6		67.5	52.9	53.8	71.9		80.0	71.2	71.7	74.6	67.2	≥ 50%	$9,299	$467	$8,831

Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Middle

What is the racial makeup of Forest Middle?

Students at Forest Middle are 78% White, 7% African American, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Forest Middle attend?

Students who attend Forest Middle usually go on to attend Jefferson Forest High

What district is Forest Middle in?

Bedford County Public Schools

Is Forest Middle a good school?

Forest Middle ranks 44^th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Forest Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 854 students attended Forest Middle.

Rate Forest Middle!

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VAVirginia Middle School Rankings

VAVirginia District Rankings

Schools in Forest, VA

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.