Summary:
Zip code 22508 contains one middle school, Locust Grove Middle, serving grades 6–8 with 685 students in the Orange County Public Schools district. Because there is only one school in this area, comparisons are made against district and state averages.
Locust Grove Middle shows clear strengths in advanced and upper-grade subjects. Algebra I proficiency is exceptional at 98–100%, well above the state average. Eighth grade science, civics and economics, and 7th and 8th grade reading all outperform the state in recent years. However, significant weaknesses exist in grade-level mathematics: 7th grade math proficiency fell from 61.99% to 45.68% and 8th grade math dropped from 61.39% to 48.84% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Sixth grade reading also trails the state by roughly 7–8 percentage points, suggesting a transition challenge when students enter middle school.
The school ranks in the 43rd percentile statewide for 2025–2026, a drop from the 53rd percentile the prior year, with a 2-star rating. Demographically, 70.8% of students are economically disadvantaged, and chronic absenteeism is 16.4% — above the state average of 14.8% but below the district average of 18.3%. The student-teacher ratio is 13.9:1, and per-student spending is $8,103. Overall, Locust Grove Middle is a competitive school within its district, often exceeding district averages in 8th grade subjects, but the steep decline in 7th and 8th grade math is the most urgent area for improvement and likely drove the ranking drop.
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