Summary:
ZIP code 23868 is home to one middle school, James S. Russell Middle, serving grades 7 and 8 in Lawrenceville, Virginia, as part of Brunswick County Public Schools.
As the only middle school in this area, James S. Russell Middle is both the sole option and the standout school. It has earned a 1-star rating for three consecutive years, but its state ranking is steadily improving, from the 17th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 27th percentile in 2024–2025 and then the 29th percentile in 2025–2026. The school's most remarkable achievement is in Algebra I, where 100% of 8th graders were proficient on the 2025–2026 SOL exam, well above the state average of 93.26%. This follows a 94.44% proficiency rate the prior year, signaling a consistently strong advanced math program even while other subjects trail state averages.
In the most recent testing year, 8th grade math proficiency (54.43%) actually exceeded the state average (46.86%), and 7th grade math was also slightly above the state. However, English reading proficiency was below state averages in both grades, and civics showed the largest gap at 56.70% versus 74.74% statewide. With a free/reduced lunch eligibility rate of 100.69%, the school serves an almost entirely economically disadvantaged population, yet per-pupil spending is a notable $11,761 and the student-teacher ratio is a reasonable 14.7. Chronic absenteeism stands at 14.9%, nearly identical to the state average of 14.8%. For parents considering this school, the standout Algebra I results and improving rank offer bright spots, but reading, science, and civics remain clear areas needing attention.
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