Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 24572

Zip code 24572, located in the Madison Heights area of Virginia, contains one middle school serving grades 6 through 8: Monelison Middle, part of Amherst County Public Schools. With 469 students, this is the only middle school in the zip code, so parents evaluating this area have a single school to examine closely.

Monelison Middle has shown a promising upward trend in its state ranking, climbing from the 18th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 29th percentile in 2025-2026, moving from 342nd to 294th out of roughly 416 Virginia schools. The school’s biggest academic highlight is its advanced math program: 100% of 7th graders and 98% of 8th graders taking Algebra I were proficient in 2025-2026, both above state averages. However, on-grade-level mathematics tells a different story, with just 37.4% of 7th graders and 50.5% of 8th graders proficient in general math, and 6th grade math at 59.4% — all below or near state averages. The school serves a high-poverty population, with 82.5% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism stands at 19.5%, nearly five points above the state rate. On a positive note, the student-teacher ratio is a favorable 11.6, suggesting smaller class sizes that could support individualized attention.

Year-over-year gains are visible in several areas: 8th grade math improved by 10.5 points, geography by 13.2 points, civics by 18.9 points, and 8th grade reading by 5.9 points. Yet 6th grade reading declined sharply from 74.3% to 66.2%, and 7th grade math slipped slightly. Social studies remains a relative weakness, with geography and civics proficiency still 6-7 points below the state average. Reading performance is mixed but shows improvement in upper grades. Overall, Monelison Middle is a school in transition: it shines in advanced math and is making broad progress, but still faces challenges in general math, social studies, and absenteeism. Parents should note the strong upward trajectory while also considering the equity gap between high-achieving algebra students and the majority of students struggling with on-grade-level content.