Summary:
Zip code 24450 (Lexington, VA) contains five public schools serving elementary through high school grades, spanning two districts with very different performance profiles. The schools include Rockbridge County High, Maury River Middle, Central Elementary, Harrington Waddell Elementary, and Lylburn Downing Middle. The Lexington City Public Schools district is ranked #1 in Virginia, while Rockbridge County Public Schools ranks 71st, which explains the wide gap in outcomes.
Harrington Waddell Elementary is the standout elementary school, with 5th grade math at 100% proficiency and reading at 96%, far above state averages. Lylburn Downing Middle is also elite, ranking 7th in the state, with most test scores above 88% and a 100% pass rate in Algebra I. In contrast, Central Elementary, which has the highest poverty rate (85.8% free/reduced lunch), struggles with early reading: only 56.8% of 3rd graders are proficient vs. 67.6% statewide. Maury River Middle sits in the middle, beating state averages in many subjects but below in Earth Science. Rockbridge County High has the lowest academic ranking (19th percentile) and weak proficiency in Algebra I and history, yet its graduation rate (95.2%) exceeds the state average, and its dropout rate is low.
Chronic absenteeism is uneven across the area. Harrington Waddell has an excellent 4.3% rate, while Lylburn Downing—despite its high test scores—has a 22.5% rate, mirroring Rockbridge County High’s 22.8%. Spending per student also varies: Maury River Middle spends the most ($12,051) while Central Elementary, the highest-poverty school, spends the least ($9,262). Parents should note that the two districts serving this zip code offer very different academic experiences. Lexington City schools are top-tier, while Rockbridge County schools range from mid-level to low-performing, though Rockbridge County High proves that strong graduation outcomes are possible even when test proficiency is below average.
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