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Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle

Q: Is Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle a good school?

Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle ranks 194 th of 419 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

194^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 419 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 54% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle is a public middle school located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, serving grades 6-8 with a student population of 877. The school is part of the Stafford County Public Schools district, which is ranked 68 out of 129 school districts in Virginia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school has shown strong academic performance, particularly in advanced math courses like Geometry and Algebra I, with proficiency rates exceeding 95% and outperforming both the Stafford County and Virginia state averages. However, the school's performance in general Mathematics for 6th and 8th grade has been relatively lower, with proficiency rates around 60-65%, slightly below the district and state averages. In English Reading, the school has consistently performed above the Stafford County and Virginia averages across all grade levels. When compared to other middle schools in the Stafford County Public Schools district, Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle generally performs on par or slightly better in academic areas, but lags behind some of the higher-performing schools, such as Rodney E. Thompson Middle.

The school's performance for male students and Hispanic students has been stronger than for female students and African American students, respectively. The school's performance for Asian students and students with disabilities has been relatively weaker. Additionally, Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle has experienced higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the surrounding schools, ranging from 15.7% to 20.8% in recent years, which may be contributing to the school's relatively lower performance in certain academic areas. Addressing the chronic absenteeism issue and implementing targeted strategies to support underperforming student groups could be important steps for the school to improve its overall academic outcomes.

887

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,700

Per pupil spending ?

36%

Free/discounted lunch ?

503 Deacon Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22405

(540) 899-0860

District: Stafford County Public Schools

Students who attend Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle usually attend:

High:

Stafford Senior High

Feeder schools for Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle:

Elementary:	Ferry Farm Elementary
	Grafton Village Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.2%

Hispanic:

15.4%

African American:

13.3%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 38th percentile in 2022 → 54th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 54th (2025) from a 38th-percentile low (2022)

✓Above the Virginia median (54th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school73%

District avg69%

Virginia avg70%

194^th of 419

Virginia public middle schools ?

Top 46%▼ down 20 pts since 2015

From top 27% (2015) to top 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 8Middle Schools in the Stafford County Public Schools

68^th of 129Stafford 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	56.5	194 of 419	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.3	227 of 417	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.5	251 of 422	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.0	257 of 415	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.1	229 of 419	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.0	211 of 424	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.2	134 of 413	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	63.5	109 of 415	73.7%	★★★★☆
2016	68.1	86 of 409	79.0%	★★★★☆
2015	63.8	110 of 412	73.3%	★★★★☆
2014	64.9	95 of 416	77.2%	★★★★☆
2013	61.9	109 of 416	73.8%	★★★★☆
2012	57.1	140 of 413	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.6	137 of 413	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	46.1	237 of 408	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.1	179 of 390	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	51.0	195 of 391	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	47.8	216 of 387	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	51.8	151 of 297	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.5	155 of 299	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.8	215 of 298	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	23.9	117 of 136	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	21.8	225 of 281	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.7	207 of 278	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	53.2	205 of 403	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.3	248 of 407	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.0	239 of 411	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	58.5	110 of 279	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.5	151 of 272	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.8	176 of 275	36.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	56.3	175 of 403	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.0	197 of 402	51.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	57.6	173 of 404	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.8	191 of 407	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.9	239 of 409	41.6%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	40.1	94 of 130	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.6	106 of 123	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	48.1	134 of 244	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.4	170 of 237	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.7	139 of 231	39.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	46.9	236 of 400	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	263 of 396	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.8	267 of 402	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)61st percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)57th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)57th percentile+3 vs school

African American (2025)49th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)49th percentile-5 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)45th percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)41st percentile-13 vs school

Military Connected (2025)28th percentile-26 vs school

Disabled (2024)20th percentile-26 vs school

Asian (2025)14th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Geometry100%+3 vs state

Algebra I98%+4 vs state

English Reading75%~ state avg

Science72%+6 vs state

Civics and Economics67%~ state avg

Mathematics63%+5 vs state

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, January 12, 2023

I noticed that staff and teachers are not giving the time and proficiency in learning although very poor in giving seminars of bully among students Close Quote

Schools Near Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith 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 Geography (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 Geography 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle	Public	6-8	503 Deacon Road	Fredericksburg	22405	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 899-0860	887	58	15.2	36.0%	534 (60.2%)	118 (13.3%)	137 (15.4%)	29 (3.3%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	65 (7.3%)	56.5	194^th of 419 public middle schools	53.7%		50.3	227^th of 417 public middle schools	45.6%	33	100.0	98.8	96.6	63.9		61.3	71.9	71.5	75.5	77.3		67.1	$9,700	$437	$9,264
Edward E. Drew Junior Middle	Public	6-8	501 Cambridge St	Falmouth	22405	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 371-1415	625	51	12.2	74.4%	180 (28.8%)	168 (26.9%)	147 (23.5%)	58 (9.3%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.6%)	67 (10.7%)	35.1	305^th of 419 public middle schools	27.2%		31.6	313^th of 417 public middle schools	24.9%	8	100.0	98.0	100.0	71.7		42.6	54.0	68.9	63.4	61.8		59.1	$13,167	$762	$12,405
T. Benton Gayle Middle	Public	6-8	100 Panther Drive	Fredericksburg	22406	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 373-0383	939	62	15.1	41.1%	392 (41.7%)	213 (22.7%)	157 (16.7%)	74 (7.9%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (10.6%)	53.5	209^th of 419 public middle schools	50.1%		54.6	207^th of 417 public middle schools	50.4%	2	97.6	100.0	99.0	73.2		39.8	64.3	75.6	74.3	71.7		70.7	$9,407	$416	$8,990
Stafford Middle	Public	6-8	101 Spartan Dr	Stafford	22554	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 658-6210	961	71	13.5	48.2%	242 (25.2%)	308 (32.0%)	256 (26.6%)	61 (6.3%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	88 (9.2%)	34.2	308^th of 419 public middle schools	26.5%		26.6	334^th of 417 public middle schools	19.9%	26	100.0	96.6	100.0	58.5		44.0	60.4	64.6	63.9	65.0		62.2	$8,432	$370	$8,061
Walker-Grant Middle	Public	6-8	One Learning Lane	Fredericksburg	22401	Fredericksburg city	Fredericksburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 372-1145	796	54	14.6	91.5%	164 (20.6%)	221 (27.8%)	210 (26.4%)	120 (15.1%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	77 (9.7%)	18.8	377^th of 419 public middle schools	10.0%		13	383^rd of 417 public middle schools	8.2%	6	100.0	100.0	100.0	36.5	33.8	40.1	53.0	58.5	57.4	66.5	56.0	45.6	$12,740	$2,827	$9,913
H.H. Poole Middle	Public	6-8	800 Eustace Rd	Stafford	22554	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 658-6190	995	67	14.8	39.7%	319 (32.1%)	276 (27.7%)	250 (25.1%)	61 (6.1%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (8.4%)	42.7	262^nd of 419 public middle schools	37.5%		35.3	293^rd of 417 public middle schools	29.7%	31	100.0	100.0	100.0	62.1		42.0	61.3	71.9	65.9	75.8		58.2	$8,072	$311	$7,761
Rodney E. Thompson Middle	Public	6-8	75 Walpole St	Stafford	22554	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 658-6420	1,063	68	15.6	24.6%	478 (45.0%)	228 (21.4%)	183 (17.2%)	81 (7.6%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	89 (8.4%)	81	41^st of 419 public middle schools	90.2%		80.8	52^nd of 417 public middle schools	87.5%	11	100.0	100.0	100.0	75.8		72.3	82.0	86.2	84.9	84.4		89.2	$8,324	$380	$7,944
Battlefield Middle	Public	6-8	7320 Smith Station Rd	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 786-4400	780	56	14.0	71.0%	257 (32.9%)	149 (19.1%)	279 (35.8%)	37 (4.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (7.2%)	35.2	303^rd of 419 public middle schools	27.7%		30.1	319^th of 417 public middle schools	23.5%	16	97.1	100.0	100.0	49.0	39.2	47.7	57.6	69.5	69.3	66.3		62.6	$9,159	$445	$8,715
Chancellor Middle	Public	6-8	6320 Harrison Rd	Fredericksburg	22407	Spotsylvania County	Spotsylvania County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 786-8099	799	61	13.0	72.1%	256 (32.0%)	129 (16.1%)	318 (39.8%)	30 (3.8%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (7.8%)	28.6	331^st of 419 public middle schools	21.0%		32.1	310^th of 417 public middle schools	25.7%	21	100.0	96.9	100.0	50.0	38.3	49.1	53.0	59.9	65.1	61.5		65.7	$9,958	$257	$9,701
Andrew G. Wright Middle	Public	6-8	100 Wood Dr	Stafford	22556	Stafford County	Stafford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 658-6240	851	56	15.1	33.1%	400 (47.0%)	98 (11.5%)	249 (29.3%)	36 (4.2%)	3 (0.4%)	5 (0.6%)	60 (7.1%)	59.6	180^th of 419 public middle schools	57.0%		56.1	199^th of 417 public middle schools	52.3%	19	100.0	97.9	100.0	68.0		68.4	70.9	76.8	73.0	77.6		67.8	$8,941	$349	$8,592

Frequently Asked Questions about Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle

What district is Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle in?

Stafford County Public Schools

What high school do graduates of Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle attend?

Students who attend Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle usually go on to attend Stafford Senior High

Is Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle a good school?

Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle ranks 194^th of 419 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 887 students attended Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle?

Students at Donald B. Dixon-Lyle R. Smith Middle are 60% White, 15% Hispanic, 13% African American, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

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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.