Summary:
Zip code 24151, serving Rocky Mount, VA, is home to three elementary schools (Lee M. Waid Elementary, Rocky Mount Elementary, and Sontag Elementary) that all serve grades PK–5 and are part of Franklin County Public Schools. All three schools have similar demographics, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility between 85% and 88%, and per-student spending is nearly identical, ranging from about $10,270 to $10,499. Despite these similarities, academic outcomes vary significantly across the zip code.
Lee M. Waid Elementary is the clear academic leader, holding a 4-star rating and a statewide percentile rank in the high 70s to low 80s over the past three years. Its overall SOL proficiency average is roughly 83–86%, with standout scores in math and Virginia Studies. In contrast, Sontag Elementary is the most improved school, jumping from the 42nd percentile in 2024–2025 to the 57th percentile in 2025–2026, driven largely by strong upper-grade math results. Rocky Mount Elementary remains the lowest-performing school academically despite having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (8.3%) and the smallest class sizes (8.3 students per teacher).
Notably, higher spending and lower student–teacher ratios do not correspond to better performance: Lee M. Waid spends the least per student and has the largest classes yet outperforms its peers. Sontag’s improvement is real, especially in math, but its chronic absenteeism rate of 15.1% is nearly double Rocky Mount’s and may hinder future growth. Rocky Mount’s low absenteeism has not translated into academic success, suggesting other factors like instructional quality or school climate play a larger role. Overall, Lee M. Waid is the most consistent high performer in the area, Sontag is gaining momentum, and Rocky Mount has the most ground to make up despite favorable attendance and staffing metrics.
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