Summary:
Zip code 22520 in Montross, Virginia, is served by two public schools in Westmoreland County Public Schools: Westmoreland High (grades 9-12, 488 students) and Montross Middle (grades 6-8, 334 students), with no elementary school located in the zip code itself.
Montross Middle is the clear standout of the two, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide with a 3-star rating and demonstrating exceptional mathematics proficiency. Its 8th grade Algebra I students achieved 100% proficiency in two consecutive years, while 8th grade math proficiency hit 89.7% compared to just 46.9% statewide. Sixth grade math also soared at 91.1% versus 63.2% statewide. The school also benefits from a lower student-teacher ratio of 10.4 and higher per-student spending of $13,747. By contrast, Westmoreland High ranks in only the 21st percentile with a 1-star rating, though it shines in graduation outcomes. Its 95.3% graduation rate exceeds the state average of 92.3%, and its dropout rate of just 0.7% is dramatically better than the state's 5.0%. The high school also posts strong Geometry (96.3% proficient) and Earth Science (87.5% proficient) scores. However, its 9th grade Algebra I proficiency of 64.0% represents a notable drop-off from the middle school's strong math preparation, suggesting a transition challenge that families should be aware of.
Both schools face similar challenges in social studies, with Westmoreland High's VA/US History proficiency at just 16.0% versus 34.5% statewide and Geography at 34.8% versus 72.2% statewide. Chronic absenteeism is also elevated, particularly at the high school at 20.3% compared to the middle school's 16.0% and the state's 14.8%. Both schools serve very high-poverty populations with universal free/reduced lunch eligibility. For parents, this area offers a middle school with genuinely outstanding math instruction but a high school that, while excellent at keeping students on track to graduate, needs targeted support in social studies and the Algebra I transition.
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