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Excellent

#201 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 11% in state

Lylburn Downing Middle

Middle School · Lexington City Public Schools

302 Diamond St, Lexington, VA 24450

Enrollment

180

Student-Teacher

12.9:1

Score

8.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#201 of 1,851

In Lexington

#2 of 5

public schools

In district

#2 of 2

Lexington City Public Schools

School environment

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Lylburn Downing Middle

8.4/10

Middle School in Lexington · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Earthsong Community School

Nearby

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Central Elementary

6.3/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Lylburn Downing Middle

Lylburn Downing Middle is a public middle school in Lexington, VA, part of Lexington City Public Schools. Lylburn Downing Middle serves approximately 180 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Lylburn Downing Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #201 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Lylburn Downing Middle show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.5 pts above VA schools
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • VA avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

At 180 students, Lylburn Downing Middle is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.34 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.4Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency82% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency92% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+6.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+16.3 pts
Overall Proficiency87% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)82% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+4.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,427
Chronic Absenteeism7.8%

Lylburn Downing Middle — Students at Lylburn Downing Middle score 87% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 82%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

29.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 82.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
66.4% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 88.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.8% (2025 SOL)

Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
97.5%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
97.5%
2012
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
73%
ELA
82%
2017
ELA
82%
2018
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2019
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2020*
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2021*
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
76.8%
ELA
92%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Lylburn Downing Middle Compares

See how Lylburn Downing Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
89th percentile in VA
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
29%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

302 Diamond St, Lexington, VA 24450

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lylburn Downing Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Parry McCluer Middle (rated 9.2/10, 5.7 miles away, in nearby Buena Vista), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Maury River Middle (rated 6.5/10, 1.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lexington, see our Lexington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 19.5 mi
School Distance Rating
EARTHSONG COMMUNITY SCHOOL Lexington 0.2 mi
Central Elementary Lexington 0.4 mi 6.3
BUFFALO CREEK BOYS SCHOOL Lexington 1.0 mi
Maury River Middle Lexington 1.0 mi 6.5
Harrington Waddell Elementary Lexington 1.0 mi 9.2
Rockbridge County High Lexington 1.3 mi 6.2
ROCKBRIDGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lexington 4.7 mi 5.1
Mountain View Elementary Buena Vista 4.3 mi 7.6
F.W. Kling Jr. Elementary Buena Vista 5.2 mi 2.7
Parry McCluer Middle Buena Vista 5.7 mi 9.2
Enderly Heights Elementary Buena Vista 6.3 mi 9.0
Parry McCluer High Buena Vista 6.2 mi 7.1
Fairfield Elementary Fairfield 9.9 mi 7.1
RIVERMONT SCHOOL - ROCKBRIDGE Fairfield 10.8 mi 5.2
Natural Bridge Elementary Natural Bridge Station 12.0 mi 6.2
Big Island Elementary Big Island 17.6 mi 7.3
Millboro Elementary Millboro 16.2 mi 7.7
Craigsville Elementary Craigsville 20.6 mi 2.5
Sharon Elementary Clifton Forge 17.0 mi 8.2
COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Clifton Forge 19.5 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24450 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$77,839

Median Home Value

$294,200

Median Rent

$1,017/mo

Population

17,760

College Educated

45.5%

Homeownership

66.8%

Avg Commute

20.9 min

Poverty Rate

9.3%

Median Age

37.2

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Damascus Middle Damascus, VA 8.4
Luther P. Jackson Middle Dendron, VA 8.1
Glade Spring Middle Glade Spring, VA 7.9
Jonesville Middle Jonesville, VA 7.9
Rural Retreat Middle Rural Retreat, VA 7.9
Elydale Middle Ewing, VA 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lylburn Downing Middle

What grades does Lylburn Downing Middle serve?

Lylburn Downing Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Lylburn Downing Middle?

Lylburn Downing Middle has an enrollment of approximately 180 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lylburn Downing Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Lylburn Downing Middle is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lylburn Downing Middle rank in VA?

Lylburn Downing Middle ranks #201 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Lylburn Downing Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Lylburn Downing Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Lylburn Downing Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lylburn Downing Middle has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lylburn Downing Middle a charter school?

No, Lylburn Downing Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lylburn Downing Middle a Title I school?

No, Lylburn Downing Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lylburn Downing Middle?

29.4% of students at Lylburn Downing Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
62 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
180
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
29.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Lexington city
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.8%

District

Lexington City Public Schools
District Enrollment
508
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,427
District Rank
#2 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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