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Wilbur S. Pence Middle

Q: Is Wilbur S. Pence Middle a good school?

Wilbur S. Pence Middle ranks 244 th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Wilbur S. Pence Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 671 students attended Wilbur S. Pence Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Wilbur S. Pence Middle?

Students at Wilbur S. Pence Middle are 71% White, 19% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Q: What high school do graduates of Wilbur S. Pence Middle attend?

Students who attend Wilbur S. Pence Middle usually go on to attend Turner Ashby High

Public Grades 6-8

244^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 41% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Wilbur S. Pence Middle is a grades 6–8 school in Dayton, Virginia, serving 671 students in Rockingham County Public Schools.

For parents, the most important story here is that Wilbur S. Pence Middle is a "math school" with a reading problem. In 7th and 8th grade math, students outperform both the district and state averages, and 100% of 8th graders taking Algebra I passed the SOL for the third consecutive year. But reading is a persistent weakness: proficiency trails the state by roughly 7 to 10 percentage points in every grade, with 8th grade reading at just 63.0% versus 73.5% statewide. Science (60.2% in 8th grade) also sits below the district and state averages. The good news? Chronic absenteeism has been cut nearly in half, from 20.2% in 2021–2022 to 10.4% in 2024–2025, now better than both the district and state averages.

The school's 2-star overall rating hides real nuance. Pence outperforms nearby Skyline Middle and Thomas Harrison Middle despite spending roughly $2,000 less per student. However, the most revealing comparison is closer to home: Montevideo Middle, just 10 miles away with nearly identical demographics and spending, ranks in the 77th percentile statewide (4 stars) versus Pence's 41st (2 stars), with double-digit gaps in several subjects. Pence's strongest subgroup rankings come from its work with African American students (81st percentile) and English Language Learners, whose statewide rank jumped from the 14th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 66th in 2025–2026. The path forward is clear: lift reading and science while protecting the gains made in math, attendance, and ELL support.

671

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,435

Per pupil spending ?

43.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

375 Bowman Road
Dayton, VA 22821

(540) 879-2535

District: Rockingham County Public Schools

Students who attend Wilbur S. Pence Middle usually attend:

High:

Turner Ashby High

Feeder schools for Wilbur S. Pence Middle:

Elementary:	John W. Wayland Elementary
	Mountain View Elementary
	Ottobine Elementary
	Pleasant Valley Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.4%

Hispanic:

19.4%

Two or more races:

4.9%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Wilbur S. Pence Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 58th percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 17 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg69%

Virginia avg68%

244^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Middle Schools in the Rockingham County Public Schools

68^th of 131Rockingham 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	244 of 416	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.1	248 of 419	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.8	251 of 417	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	250 of 422	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.2	275 of 415	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.9	247 of 419	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.5	275 of 424	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.0	235 of 413	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.6	196 of 415	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	55.2	172 of 409	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	58.8	147 of 412	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.8	205 of 416	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.4	172 of 416	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.2	168 of 413	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.6	153 of 413	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	55.8	164 of 408	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	47.5	213 of 390	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	56.7	148 of 391	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	59.7	129 of 387	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	66.7	83 of 383	78.3%	★★★★☆
2005	72.2	78 of 340	77.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	56 of 297	81.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	21.3	242 of 292	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.2	152 of 278	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	54.9	45 of 134	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.1	58 of 135	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	23.8	105 of 122	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.9	44 of 100	56.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	48.6	242 of 409	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.5	254 of 403	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.0	262 of 407	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.1	291 of 411	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	37.6	187 of 283	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.0	210 of 279	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	199 of 272	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.1	218 of 275	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	36.5	288 of 401	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.7	302 of 403	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.2	285 of 402	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	47.5	232 of 410	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.9	229 of 404	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.4	227 of 407	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.1	197 of 409	51.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	55.8	109 of 249	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	21.6	212 of 244	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.9	174 of 231	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	32.1	317 of 400	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.1	301 of 400	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.8	304 of 396	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.2	304 of 402	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)81st percentile+40 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)66th percentile+25 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)56th percentile+15 vs school

Male (2026)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)41st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)34th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)21st percentile-21 vs school

Disabled (2026)17th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I100%+7 vs state

Civics and Economics73%~ state avg

English Reading67%-6 vs state

Mathematics65%+10 vs state

Science60%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wilbur S. Pence 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 Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL World History I (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 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 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 World History I 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
Wilbur S. Pence Middle	Public	6-8	375 Bowman Road	Dayton	22821	Rockingham County	Rockingham County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 879-2535	671	52	12.8	43.1%	479 (71.4%)	21 (3.1%)	130 (19.4%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.9%)	48	244^th of 416 public middle schools	41.3%		45.1	248^th of 419 public middle schools	40.8%	4			100.0	61.1	71.4	61.2	60.2		70.8	65.6	63.0			73.4	$9,435	$129	$9,306
Thomas Harrison Middle	Public	6-8	1311 W. Market Street	Harrisonburg	22801	Harrisonburg city	Harrisonburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 434-1949	771	58	13.4	86.8%	257 (33.3%)	69 (8.9%)	395 (51.2%)	17 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.3%)	30.1	327^th of 416 public middle schools	21.4%		26.9	340^th of 419 public middle schools	18.9%	13			100.0	59.3	59.6	42.0	58.5		54.0	54.3	57.1			60.0	$11,102	$462	$10,640
Skyline Middle	Public	6-8	470 Linda Lane	Harrisonburg	22802	Harrisonburg city	Harrisonburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 434-6862	738	58	12.7	85.6%	211 (28.6%)	83 (11.2%)	401 (54.3%)	16 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.7%)	22.1	360^th of 416 public middle schools	13.5%		19	375^th of 419 public middle schools	10.5%	15			98.6	42.0	43.3	39.8	56.7		44.7	44.0	56.3			65.5	$11,459	$347	$11,112
Montevideo Middle	Public	6-8	7648 McGaheysville Rd	Penn Laird	22846	Rockingham County	Rockingham County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 289-3401	593	51	11.5	37.3%	367 (61.9%)	26 (4.4%)	149 (25.1%)	23 (3.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.4%)	72	96^th of 416 public middle schools	76.9%		65	145^th of 419 public middle schools	65.4%	49			100.0	78.7	84.6	64.4	69.3		77.0	81.0	74.0			81.9	$10,196	$341	$9,856
S. Gordon Stewart Middle	Public	6-8	118 Fort Defiance Rd	Fort Defiance	24437	Augusta County	Augusta County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 245-5046	516	39	13.1	68.6%	416 (80.6%)	9 (1.7%)	69 (13.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.7%)	48.1	241^st of 416 public middle schools	42.1%		41.2	269^th of 419 public middle schools	35.8%	28	< 50%		100.0	77.6	63.5	48.5	64.5	≥ 50%	69.6	58.1	69.9		< 50%	67.2	$9,515	$174	$9,341
J. Frank Hillyard Middle	Public	6-8	226 Hawks Hill Drive	Broadway	22815	Rockingham County	Rockingham County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 896-8961	726	52	14.0	66.1%	513 (70.7%)	9 (1.2%)	156 (21.5%)	7 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (5.4%)	46	254^th of 416 public middle schools	38.9%		43.6	258^th of 419 public middle schools	38.4%	4	≥ 50%		100.0	55.3	65.8	49.7	73.7		68.2	63.0	64.5			75.1	$8,838	$415	$8,423
Elkton Middle	Public	6-8	21063 Blue and Gold Dr	Elkton	22827	Rockingham County	Rockingham County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 298-1228	561	49	11.4	66.3%	428 (76.3%)	9 (1.6%)	80 (14.3%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (7.0%)	47.8	245^th of 416 public middle schools	41.1%		37	294^th of 419 public middle schools	29.8%	49			100.0	64.6	53.9	39.2	65.1		69.9	71.9	65.5	≥ 50%		79.9	$9,811	$420	$9,391
Shelburne Middle	Public	6-8	300 Grubert Ave	Staunton	24401	Staunton city	Staunton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 332-3930	583	49	11.8	84.0%	366 (62.8%)	71 (12.2%)	56 (9.6%)	6 (1.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (13.9%)	55.4	199^th of 416 public middle schools	52.2%		49.5	227^th of 419 public middle schools	45.8%	28	100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	65.7	56.0	56.6	67.7		73.0	72.3	75.6				$11,301	$760	$10,540

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilbur S. Pence Middle

What district is Wilbur S. Pence Middle in?

Rockingham County Public Schools

What high school do graduates of Wilbur S. Pence Middle attend?

Students who attend Wilbur S. Pence Middle usually go on to attend Turner Ashby High

What is the racial makeup of Wilbur S. Pence Middle?

Students at Wilbur S. Pence Middle are 71% White, 19% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% African American.

How many students attend Wilbur S. Pence Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 671 students attended Wilbur S. Pence Middle.

Is Wilbur S. Pence Middle a good school?

Wilbur S. Pence Middle ranks 244^th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Wilbur S. Pence Middle!

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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.