Summary:
Zip code 24588 is home to a single middle school, Rustburg Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 in Campbell County Public Schools, with 626 students and nearly 78% eligible for free or reduced lunch. This school has been on a clear upward trajectory, improving its state ranking from 246th to 183rd over two years and earning a 3-star rating. Its strongest performances are in Algebra I (94.51% proficiency), Civics & Economics (80.53%), and 6th grade math and reading (79.25% each) — all of which match or exceed district and state averages. The math program has shown dramatic year-over-year gains, especially in 8th grade, where proficiency jumped more than 12 points to 51.46%, now above both district and state levels. The school also benefits from a low student-teacher ratio of 10.4 and a chronic absenteeism rate of 11.5%, which is well below the state average of 14.8%.
Despite these strengths, there are a few areas families should watch. 7th grade math (56.84%) and reading (70%) both trail the district, though math still beats the state average. 8th grade reading (69.43%) is also below the state level. Science proficiency dropped by 7.47 points this year to 66.49%, but it remains slightly above district and state figures. Civics, while still strong at 80.53%, slipped by nearly 5 points. These declines suggest that the school’s impressive gains in math and reading may have come at some cost to other subjects, and maintaining balance will be important moving forward.
Overall, Rustburg Middle stands out as a school that is making meaningful progress despite serving a high-poverty population. Its low student-teacher ratio, strong Algebra I pass rates, and rapidly improving math scores are encouraging signs. The main priorities for continued success should be strengthening 7th grade instruction, preventing further slippage in science and civics, and closing the small reading gaps in grades 7 and 8. For parents in the 24588 area, this is a school with clear momentum and a solid foundation worth watching.
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