Summary:
Zip code 24450 (Lexington, VA) is served by two public middle schools — Maury River Middle and Lylburn Downing Middle — both covering grades 6-8 but belonging to different divisions: Rockbridge County Public Schools and Lexington City Public Schools.
These two schools offer a striking contrast. Lylburn Downing Middle is the clear academic standout, ranking 7th out of 416 Virginia middle schools (98th percentile) with a 5-star rating. Its district is ranked #1 in the state. SOL proficiency rates are exceptional — 100% in Algebra I, 94–95% in 6th and 7th grade math, 88.9% in 8th grade math, and 92–93% in English reading at every grade level. Every subject-area score is well above the Virginia average, some by 40+ points. Meanwhile, Maury River Middle serves a much larger, higher-poverty student body (75% free/reduced-price lunch vs. 31%) and performs nearer the state average. It has improved from the 40th to 55th percentile over two years, earning 3 stars. Maury River also posts strong Algebra I results (97.96%), solid 8th grade math (63.27% vs. 46.86% statewide), and very low chronic absenteeism (9.9% vs. 14.8% statewide).
Key differences stand out. Lylburn Downing has a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.5% — more than double its district rate and far above the state average — yet still achieves top-10 results, suggesting strong instructional support. Maury River, despite higher poverty, spends more per student ($12,051 vs. $11,022) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (10.9 vs. 12.8). Both schools show positive momentum: Lylburn Downing jumped from rank 69 to rank 7 in two years, while Maury River improved steadily. Math scores can be volatile year to year, but Algebra I is a shared strength. One notable weakness: Maury River’s Earth Science proficiency (81.56%) trails the state (90.67%) by a wide margin. Ultimately, families in this zip code can choose between an elite, top-10 middle school and a larger, improving school serving a higher-need population.
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