Summary:
Zip code 24277 is home to one middle school, Pennington Middle, which serves grades 6–8 in Pennington Gap, Virginia. This school, part of Lee County Public Schools, stands out for exceptional mathematics achievement, perfect scores in advanced coursework, and remarkably low chronic absenteeism despite serving a student population where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Pennington Middle enrolls 278 students and has a low student-teacher ratio of 9.1, with per-pupil spending of $11,496. Its state ranking has improved from the 55th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 64th percentile in 2025–2026, moving up 40 spots to 149th out of 416 Virginia middle schools. Chronic absenteeism is just 1.1%, compared to 7.9% for the district and 14.8% for the state. In math, the school dramatically outperforms Virginia averages: 7th grade math proficiency reached 85.88% versus 51.11% statewide, and 8th grade math hit 78.13% versus 46.86% statewide. The school also recorded perfect 100% proficiency in Algebra I and World History I for 8th graders in 2025–2026.
While math is a clear strength, English reading is a relative weakness, with 7th and 8th grade reading scores slightly below state averages in 2025–2026. Civics and Economics also remains an improvement area, at 66.67% versus the state's 70.10%. Nevertheless, the combination of high attendance, small classes, and strong math instruction is producing impressive results for a high-poverty school. The improvement in ranking and consistent outperformance in STEM subjects suggest positive momentum for Pennington Middle in the years ahead.
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