Summary:
Zip code 24088 contains exactly one elementary school, Ferrum Elementary in Ferrum, Virginia, which serves grades PK-5 with 281 students as part of Franklin County Public Schools. This small, high-poverty school stands out for its exceptional 5th-grade science proficiency (86.54% in 2025-2026, nearly 18 points above the state average), its lower-than-average chronic absenteeism rate of 13.8%, and its overall ability to match or exceed state averages in most subjects despite 88.97% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
Academically, Ferrum Elementary shows clear strengths and weaknesses. In mathematics, 5th graders scored 80.77% proficient, far exceeding the state’s 72.39%, while 3rd and 4th graders were essentially at state averages. In English reading, 5th graders also excelled at 78.85% versus the state’s 72.42%, but 3rd grade reading dropped sharply to 63.04% — more than 17 points lower than the previous year’s cohort. The biggest concern is 4th-grade Virginia Studies, where only 65.22% of students were proficient, trailing the district by nearly 14 points. Year-to-year swings are notable, with 3rd-grade math and reading falling significantly and 5th-grade reading and science rising, indicating some inconsistency across student cohorts.
Ferrum’s statewide rank has slipped slightly over the past three years, from the 63rd to the 55th percentile, even though its district is rated 4 stars and ranks 38th out of 131 in Virginia. The school itself holds a 3-star rating. Attendance is a positive foundation, with chronic absenteeism better than both district and state averages. For parents, the most urgent focus areas should be 3rd-grade reading, 4th-grade Virginia Studies, and 4th-grade math, where Ferrum trails its district by the largest margins, while upper-grade science and reading demonstrate genuine strengths worth celebrating.
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