Summary:
In zip code 24151, there is just one middle school serving grades 6 through 8: Benjamin Franklin Middle in Rocky Mount, VA, part of Franklin County Public Schools. This large school enrolls 1,382 students and, despite having a high rate of economic need (86.18% free/reduced lunch), it delivers some standout academic results.
The school's biggest strength is mathematics. In 2025–2026, 8th-grade math proficiency reached 71.92% compared to the state's 46.86%, and 7th-grade math hit 73.50% versus 51.11% statewide. Even more striking, 100% of 8th graders passed the Algebra I SOL exam in both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, matching the district and exceeding the state average by 7–8 points. Reading scores are also at or slightly above state averages across grades 6–8, while science is above the state mark (69.91% vs. 64.72%). A low student-teacher ratio of 10.3 and per-student spending of $10,482 suggest strong resource investment that may be driving these results.
Areas for concern include chronic absenteeism (18.3% vs. 14.8% statewide) and a recent dip in state ranking from the 74th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 63rd percentile in 2025–2026. Civics scores fell below state averages in the most recent year, though they had been a strength the prior year. Overall, Benjamin Franklin Middle is a high-poverty school that performs remarkably well in math and solidly in reading and science, making it a strong pillar of its district, with absenteeism and civics being the most promising areas for improvement.
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