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Wilbur S. Pence Middle

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

Wilbur S. Pence Middle ranks 248 th of 419 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

248^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 419 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 41% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Wilbur S. Pence Middle is a public middle school located in Dayton, Virginia, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 669 students. The school is part of the Rockingham County Public Schools district, which is ranked 91 out of 129 districts in Virginia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Wilbur S. Pence Middle has consistently ranked in the middle range of Virginia middle schools, typically around the 250th out of 400-420 schools. Its performance has been relatively stable, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years. The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with male students generally performing better than female students. Additionally, the school struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 11.8% to 21.3% over the past few years. Wilbur S. Pence Middle's test scores are generally on par with or slightly below the Rockingham County Public Schools district and the state of Virginia averages, with the school performing best in Algebra I and Civics and Economics.

When compared to nearby middle schools in the Rockingham County Public Schools district, such as Elkton Middle and J. Frank Hillyard Middle, Wilbur S. Pence Middle's performance is generally on par or slightly below. However, it lags behind the higher-performing Montevideo Middle school, also in the same district. Compared to middle schools in the Staunton City Public Schools and Augusta County Public Schools districts, Wilbur S. Pence Middle performs worse overall, with schools like Shelburne Middle and S. Gordon Stewart Middle having higher academic rankings and better test scores.

671

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,710

Per pupil spending ?

43.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

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: Rebounding — 34th percentile in 2022 → 41st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 41st (2025) from a 34th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

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

!English Reading scores 11 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school66%

District avg66%

Virginia avg68%

248^th of 419

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 24 pts since 2015

From top 36% (2015) to bottom 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

91^st of 129Rockingham 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
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%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	38.2	152 of 278	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)

English Language Learner (2025)57th percentile+16 vs school

Disabled (2023)45th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)43rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)37th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)25th percentile-16 vs school

White (2025)25th percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2025)25th percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)13th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I100%+8 vs state

Civics and Economics77%+3 vs state

Science65%~ state avg

Mathematics63%+7 vs state

English Reading62%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wilbur S. Pence Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Geometry (2025)	SOL Algebra I (2025)		SOL Mathematics (2025)			SOL Science (2025)	SOL English Reading (2025)			SOL Civics and Economics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th 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%)	45.1	248^th of 419 public middle schools	40.8%		44.8	251^st of 417 public middle schools	39.8%	3			100.0	58.2	74.8	55.5	64.9	62.2	63.4	59.5	76.6	$9,710	$125	$9,585
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%)	26.9	340^th of 419 public middle schools	18.9%		27.5	327^th of 417 public middle schools	21.6%	13			98.9	52.1	52.2	34.5	58.8	55.2	53.4	59.5	64.8	$12,006	$1,238	$10,768
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%)	19	375^th of 419 public middle schools	10.5%		22.4	346^th of 417 public middle schools	17.0%	29			95.6	47.9	50.0	20.4	52.8	47.2	52.7	46.0	63.6	$11,842	$1,176	$10,666
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%)	65	145^th of 419 public middle schools	65.4%		62.6	158^th of 417 public middle schools	62.1%	13			100.0	73.4	83.3	65.6	72.4	70.4	72.0	72.7	82.8	$9,846	$175	$9,671
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%)	41.2	269^th of 419 public middle schools	35.8%		44.3	252^nd of 417 public middle schools	39.6%	17			100.0	50.9	68.8	44.2	59.3	56.7	75.3	66.0	65.2	$9,115	$183	$8,931
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%)	43.6	258^th of 419 public middle schools	38.4%		47.5	234^th of 417 public middle schools	43.9%	24			96.4	60.6	64.7	50.2	67.9	62.6	63.9	63.5	72.7	$9,468	$411	$9,057
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%)	37	294^th of 419 public middle schools	29.8%		33.5	302^nd of 417 public middle schools	27.6%	8			100.0	60.0	52.1	33.3	59.8	63.9	68.2	67.4	65.5	$9,192	$403	$8,788
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%)	49.5	227^th of 419 public middle schools	45.8%		48	233^rd of 417 public middle schools	44.1%	6	100.0	100.0	100.0	58.8	51.2	49.7	67.5	75.3	73.3	69.0		$10,775	$1,164	$9,611

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilbur S. Pence Middle

How many students attend Wilbur S. Pence Middle?

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

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 district is Wilbur S. Pence Middle in?

Rockingham County Public Schools

Is Wilbur S. Pence Middle a good school?

Wilbur S. Pence Middle ranks 248^th of 419 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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.

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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.