Lylburn Downing Middle

Lylburn Downing Middle is a small public middle school in Lexington, VA, serving 187 students in grades 6–8 and is part of Lexington City Public Schools, which ranks #1 out of 131 districts in Virginia. For the 2025–2026 school year, Lylburn Downing is ranked 7th out of 416 Virginia middle schools (98th percentile), placing it among the very best middle schools in the state and clearly ahead of two nearby schools just miles away — Maury River Middle (ranked 188th) and Parry McCluer Middle (ranked 88th).

Academically, Lylburn Downing's SOL proficiency rates are remarkable, often running 30 to 40 percentage points above the state average. In 7th grade math, 94.55% of students scored proficient versus 51.11% statewide; 8th grade reading hit 92.42%; and 8th grade Algebra I reached 100%. The school also performs brilliantly across student subgroups — female, male, white, and low socioeconomic status students all rank in the top 4% of Virginia middle schools. Low-income students at Lylburn Downing rank 16th in the state, a huge jump from 126th just two years earlier. This suggests the school delivers strong outcomes for every group of learners, not just a select few. Notably, Lylburn achieves these results while spending less per student ($11,022) than Maury River ($12,051) or Parry McCluer ($13,246).

The main concern is chronic absenteeism, which spiked to 22.5% in 2024–2025, far above the district average of 10.7% and the state average of 14.8%. It was just 3.9% the year before — a dramatic jump likely amplified by the school's small size. The school also saw volatility in 8th grade math, swinging from below the state average one year to near 90% the next, so year-to-year changes should be interpreted with caution. Overall, Lylburn Downing has climbed from 139th in the state a decade ago to its current elite standing, making it a standout middle school and the clear academic leader among its immediate neighbors.