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Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation

Q: Is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation a good school?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation ranks in the bottom 7.2% of Virginia middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation?

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation?

Students at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation are 47% African American, 31% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

386^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 7% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation is a grades 6–8 middle school in Lynchburg, VA, serving 531 students in the Lynchburg City Public Schools district. Nearly all students (97.2%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the highest rate among nearby schools. The school's overall academic standing is low and has declined in recent years — Dunbar ranked 386th out of 416 Virginia middle schools in 2025–2026 (7th percentile, 0 stars), down from the 37th percentile in 2017–2018. Within the same district, it ranks slightly above Linkhorne Middle and well above Sandusky Middle.

The most striking pattern at Dunbar is the gap between advanced coursework and grade-level performance. Eighth-grade Algebra I students scored 92.3% proficient, nearly matching the state average of 93.3%, and Earth Science students scored 81.3% proficient. However, grade-level 8th grade science proficiency was just 17.4%, and 7th grade math proficiency was only 10.6% versus 51.1% statewide. Reading was a relative bright spot — 8th grade reading proficiency reached 54.6%, above the district average of 52.5%. Chronic absenteeism is a major barrier: at 34.0% in 2024–2025, it is the highest in the comparison group, has risen from 26.9% the year before, and is more than double the state rate of 14.8%.

Compared to neighboring county schools, the gaps are substantial. Forest Middle, about 9 miles away, ranks in the 89th percentile with 80–90% proficiency in most subjects and just 20.5% poverty. Even high-poverty schools like Appomattox Middle (77.9% poverty) outperform Dunbar substantially, with 69–76% proficiency in math and reading. Dunbar's relatively strong resources — per-pupil spending of $10,988 and a student-teacher ratio of 11.5 — suggest funding and staffing are not the primary obstacles. The school serves its low-income students far less effectively than its other students, a particular concern given that nearly all students are economically disadvantaged.

531

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,011

Per pupil spending ?

97.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1200 1208 Polk St
Lynchburg, VA 24504-3149

(434) 515-5310

District: Lynchburg City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

46.9%

White:

31.1%

Hispanic:

12.4%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 13th percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (50% vs 69% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (25% vs 13% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg44%

Virginia avg69%

386^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 13% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Middle Schools in the Lynchburg City Public Schools

126^th of 131Lynchburg City 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	13.0	386 of 416	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.5	384 of 419	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	328 of 417	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.2	348 of 422	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.8	298 of 415	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.4	289 of 419	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	290 of 424	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.6	261 of 413	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	22.8	356 of 415	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.9	357 of 409	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	26.3	340 of 412	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	28.2	319 of 416	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.5	339 of 416	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.6	390 of 413	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	21.9	368 of 413	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.8	361 of 408	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	24.6	341 of 390	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	27.6	342 of 391	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.5	252 of 387	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	34.5	291 of 383	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	38.4	255 of 340	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.0	275 of 297	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	12.5	277 of 297	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	259 of 299	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	257 of 298	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	42.5	147 of 281	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.0	380 of 409	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	374 of 403	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	22.0	344 of 407	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.3	330 of 411	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	30.3	215 of 283	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.3	269 of 279	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	42.7	160 of 272	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.9	147 of 275	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.1	386 of 401	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.0	383 of 403	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.9	356 of 402	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	15.7	377 of 410	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.3	365 of 404	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	32.4	295 of 407	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	339 of 409	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	10.4	240 of 249	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.9	224 of 244	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.5	175 of 237	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	217 of 231	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	120 of 400	70.0%	★★★★☆
2025	56.3	176 of 400	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.7	117 of 396	70.5%	★★★★☆
2023	68.5	104 of 402	74.1%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2026)70th percentile+63 vs school

Disabled (2024)48th percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2026)24th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2026)8th percentile~ school

African American (2026)7th percentile~ school

Female (2026)7th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)4th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)4th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I92%-3 vs state

Earth Science81%-9 vs state

English Reading58%-15 vs state

Civics and Economics56%-18 vs state

Geography44%-24 vs state

Mathematics30%-25 vs state

Science17%-47 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation

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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
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
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
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
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
Brookville Middle	Public	6-8	320 Bee Dr	Lynchburg	24502	Campbell County	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
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
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
Amherst Middle	Public	6-8	165 Gordons Fairground Rd	Amherst	24521	Amherst County	Amherst County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 946-0691	371	29	12.9	82.7%	258 (69.5%)	54 (14.6%)	19 (5.1%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (9.2%)	53.2	215^th of 416 public middle schools	48.3%		58	188^th of 419 public middle schools	55.1%	27		100.0		100.0	100.0		57.4	50.7	73.2	80.3		67.0	73.0	72.9	80.7	59.5		$11,164	$107	$11,057
Appomattox Middle	Public	6-8	2020 Church St	Appomattox	24522	Appomattox County	Appomattox County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(434) 352-8257	542	43	12.6	77.9%	358 (66.1%)	107 (19.7%)	27 (5.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (8.9%)	53	219^th of 416 public middle schools	47.4%		63.3	158^th of 419 public middle schools	62.3%	61					100.0		74.1	69.2	51.9	63.1		69.2	76.2	64.3			69.3	$9,687	$441	$9,246
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation

What is the racial makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation?

Students at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation are 47% African American, 31% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation?

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation.

Is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation a good school?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation ranks in the bottom 7.2% of Virginia middle schools.

What district is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle for Innovation in?

Lynchburg City Public Schools

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

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

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 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.