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Very Good

#534 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 29% in state

Nelson Middle

Middle School · Nelson County Public Schools

6925 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, VA 22949

Enrollment

359

Student-Teacher

12:1

Score

7.5

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#534 of 1,851

In Lovingston

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#1 of 4

Nelson County Public Schools

School environment

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Nelson Middle

7.5/10

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

Nelson County High

7.3/10

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

Tye River Elementary

6.2/10

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

About Nelson Middle

Nelson Middle is a public middle school in Lovingston, VA, part of Nelson County Public Schools. Nelson Middle serves approximately 359 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Nelson Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #534 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Nelson Middle show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Nelson Middle

Sources: School's website Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Nelson County Middle School shares a campus with Nelson County High School, which is a four-year comprehensive public high school within the Nelson County Public Schools district 2 . The high school serves 540 students in grades 9–12 and is staffed by 51 professional educators 2 . It holds accreditation from the Virginia State Board of Education 2 . The broader Nelson County Public Schools system employs 285 dedicated full-time staff members 1 . In 2024, the district reported a 92.2% on-time graduate rate for its high school students 1 . Additionally, the district's beginning teacher salary was ranked 9th in Virginia for that year 1 .
Sources (2)
  1. www.nelson.k12.va.us
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares1.6 pts above VA schools
  • This school 7.5 · Very Good
  • VA avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

Nelson Middle sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.0Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.0Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency77% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+5.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+1.3 pts
Overall Proficiency79% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)68% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+11.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
Resources & Environment9.2Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,458
Chronic Absenteeism25.1%

Nelson Middle — Students at Nelson Middle score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

82.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 76.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
66.4% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 77.2% (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
86%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
86%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
73%
ELA
90%
2012
Math
76%
ELA
73%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
74%
2014
Math
87%
ELA
76%
2015
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2016
Math
71%
ELA
74%
2017
ELA
74%
2018
Math
87%
ELA
76%
2019
Math
87%
ELA
76%
2020*
Math
44%
ELA
66%
2021*
Math
44%
ELA
66%
2025
Math
78.5%
ELA
77.3%

* 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: 6.0/10.

How Nelson Middle Compares

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

Overall Score
7.5/10
71th percentile in VA
Academic
8.0/10
Excellent
Growth
6.0/10
Average
Environment
9.2/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
83%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.1%

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

6925 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, VA 22949

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Nelson Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Amherst Middle (rated 7.2/10, 13.6 miles away, in nearby Amherst), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Stuarts Draft Middle (rated 4.9/10, 22.4 miles away, in nearby Stuarts Draft), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lovingston, see our Lovingston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 23.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Nelson County High Lovingston 0.1 mi 7.3
Tye River Elementary Arrington 1.9 mi 6.2
Temperance Elementary Amherst 10.6 mi 6.9
Amherst Elementary Amherst 13.0 mi 7.4
Amherst Middle Amherst 13.6 mi 7.2
Central Elementary Amherst 13.7 mi 4.7
Rockfish River Elementary Afton 14.9 mi 6.4
Amherst County High Amherst 14.4 mi 5.5
NORTH BRANCH SCHOOL Afton 18.8 mi 6.4
RIDGEVIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Stuarts Draft 20.4 mi 5.7
KEYS ACADEMY - AUGUSTA/STUARTS DRAFT Stuarts Draft 21.5 mi
Berkeley Glenn Elementary Waynesboro 22.3 mi 4.1
Guy K. Stump Elementary Stuarts Draft 21.9 mi 5.2
Stuarts Draft Middle Stuarts Draft 22.4 mi 4.9
Stuarts Draft Elementary Stuarts Draft 22.6 mi 5.6
APPALACHIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Waynesboro 23.1 mi 5.7
FISHBURNE MILITARY SCHOOL Waynesboro 23.1 mi 8.0
MILLER SCHOOL OF ALBEMARLE Charlottesville 21.6 mi 6.7
Stuarts Draft High Stuarts Draft 22.6 mi 6.5
Wenonah Elementary Waynesboro 23.1 mi 5.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 22949 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,234

Median Home Value

$259,100

Population

1,260

College Educated

29.9%

Homeownership

71.5%

Poverty Rate

17.1%

Median Age

58

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Galax Middle Galax, VA 7.5
Gate City Middle Gate City, VA 7.5
Glenvar Middle Salem, VA 7.5
Independence Middle Independence, VA 7.4
Nandua Middle Onley, VA 7.6
Pennington Middle Pennington Gap, VA 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Nelson Middle

What grades does Nelson Middle serve?

Nelson Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Nelson Middle?

Nelson Middle has an enrollment of approximately 359 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Nelson Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Nelson Middle is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Nelson Middle rank in VA?

Nelson Middle ranks #534 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Nelson Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Nelson Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Nelson Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Nelson Middle has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Nelson Middle a charter school?

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

Is Nelson Middle a Title I school?

No, Nelson Middle is not currently a Title I school.

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

82.7% of students at Nelson 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
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
15 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
359
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
82.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Nelson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.1%

District

Nelson County Public Schools
District Enrollment
1,495
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,458
District Rank
#1 of 4

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