Best Public Schools in Zip Code 24572

Zip code 24572 is served by four schools in Amherst County Public Schools—three elementary schools (serving grades K-5) and one middle school (grades 6-8)—with no high school in the immediate area. All four schools serve high-poverty populations, with free/reduced lunch rates between 82.5% and 84.0%, yet their academic outcomes vary dramatically, making this a community where school choice within the district matters.

Elon Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 64th percentile overall and scoring above the Virginia state average in every subject and grade level. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 8.4%, the lowest in the zip code, and its combined math/reading proficiency is around 80%. By contrast, Madison Heights Elementary ranks in the 14th percentile, has the highest chronic absenteeism (21.3%), and has fallen below the state average in every tested subject. Amelon Elementary is the most improved school, with 3rd-grade reading jumping from 46% to 75% proficiency in one year, though it still ranks in the 26th percentile overall. Monelison Middle is the only middle school, and it shows a fascinating split: 7th and 8th graders score near perfectly (100% and 98%) on Algebra I, but grade-level math proficiency is much weaker, especially 7th-grade math at just 37%.

The strongest pattern across the zip code is the link between attendance and achievement. Elon's absenteeism is less than half of Madison Heights', and its performance is far higher. Madison Heights is the only school whose rank has declined over two years, making it a clear candidate for intervention. Amelon's reading turnaround shows that rapid improvement is possible even in high-poverty schools. Monelison's advanced math results suggest a strong accelerated track, but parents of students not on that track should pay close attention to grade-level math support. Spending per student is similar across all four schools, so differences in outcomes are likely driven more by school culture, attendance, and instructional strategies than by funding levels.