Summary:
Zip code 24501 in Lynchburg, VA is served by 4 schools in the Lynchburg City Public Schools district: one high school (E.C. Glass High, grades 9–12) and three elementary schools (Robert S. Payne Elementary, William M. Bass Elementary, and Dearington Elementary/Innovation, all PK–5). These schools serve an almost universally low-income population, with free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from 94.68% to 98.33%, and the district itself ranks in the 4th percentile statewide, signaling serious systemic challenges.
Despite similar poverty levels, outcomes vary widely. William M. Bass Elementary was the clear standout in 2024–25, with math proficiency near 64%, science at 78.6%, and the lowest chronic absenteeism in the zip code at just 9.0%—far better than the district (27%) and state (14.8%). However, Bass then suffered a dramatic collapse in 2025–26, dropping to the 4th percentile statewide. Dearington Elementary/Innovation followed a similar pattern, while Robert S. Payne Elementary was more stable but consistently weak, especially in math, where only about 21–22% of 4th and 5th graders scored proficient. Payne also spends the least per student ($9,579) despite being the largest elementary school (435 students).
E.C. Glass High presents a sharply mixed picture: a 79.2% graduation rate, 9.1% dropout rate, and 33.6% chronic absenteeism are serious red flags, yet the school posts strong subject-level results in Geography, 12th-grade English Reading, and upper-level Biology, where it exceeds state averages. Higher spending and smaller class sizes at Bass and Dearington (over $15,000 per student, 9.4:1 ratio) have not translated into sustained gains, while Payne’s lower spending and larger classes coincide with the weakest math scores. All three elementary schools have seen their state rankings fall since 2023–24, which is concerning for the future. In a high-poverty context, the zip code’s bright spots—Bass’s attendance record and E.C. Glass’s advanced course performance—show potential, but the broad downward elementary trend demands urgent attention.
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