Summary:
Middle schools in zip code 24437 are represented by a single school, S. Gordon Stewart Middle in Fort Defiance, VA, which serves grades 6 through 8 with 516 students and is part of Augusta County Public Schools. Because only this one middle school is in the area, the most useful comparisons are against the district and Virginia state averages.
Academically, S. Gordon Stewart Middle shows both strengths and weak spots. The clearest strength is Algebra I: 8th graders achieved 100% proficiency in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, well above state averages. Sixth-grade math also improved dramatically, jumping from 50.92% to 77.56% proficiency in one year, outpacing both district and state averages. On the other hand, 7th-grade reading fell sharply from 75.27% to 58.13% proficiency, leaving it roughly 15 points below the state average. Reading scores in all three grades were below state averages in 2025-2026, and 8th-grade math remained modest at 48.48%. The school’s state ranking has improved from the 36th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 42nd percentile in 2025-2026, but it still sits in the lower-middle range of Virginia middle schools.
Attendance and economic factors are important context. Chronic absenteeism is 17.6%, which is about 3 percentage points higher than the district and state rates. This likely affects learning, especially given that 68.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school spends $9,115 per student and maintains a 13.1-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Science proficiency in 8th grade (64.52%) nearly matches the state average, while civics (67.21%) trails by about 7 points. Overall, S. Gordon Stewart Middle has areas of excellence, particularly in advanced math, but faces real challenges in reading and attendance. The recent upward trend in ranking and 6th-grade math suggests potential, especially if the school can address chronic absenteeism and stabilize reading performance.
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