Summary:
In zip code 23851 (Franklin, VA), there are just 2 schools serving grades PK–12 within the Franklin City Public Schools district — the lowest-ranked district in Virginia (131 out of 131, 0-star rating). S.P. Morton Elementary serves PK–6 with 620 students, while Franklin High serves grades 7–12 with 504 students, meaning there is no standalone middle school.
Both schools rank in the bottom 1% of Virginia schools — S.P. Morton is 1,107 out of 1,111 elementary schools and Franklin High is 328 out of 331 high schools. Math is the weakest subject across the board: Morton’s math proficiency ranges from 22% to 41% (state average: 63–74%), while Franklin High’s 7th and 8th grade math proficiency is just 8.5% and 14.1% respectively. Reading is stronger but still low, with Morton at 31–44% and Franklin High’s 11th grade reading at 67.2% — about 21 points below the state average. Writing is a major issue at the high school: 11th grade writing proficiency is only 42.9% versus 79.9% statewide, even though reading is comparatively better.
Chronic absenteeism affects about 1 in 4 elementary students and 1 in 5 high school students, roughly 1.5 times the state rate. Nearly all students are economically disadvantaged, with free/reduced lunch rates at or above 100%. However, there are bright spots: Franklin High’s 9th grade Algebra I and Algebra II scores are essentially at state averages, and 8th grade Algebra I reached 100% proficiency in 2024–25. The graduation rate (88.1%) is close to the state average (92.3%), and the dropout rate (4.7%) is slightly below the statewide 5.0%. Test scores fluctuate significantly year to year due to small cohorts, so these numbers should be interpreted with caution.
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