Very Good
#482 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 26% in state
Pennington Middle
Middle School · Lee County Public Schools · Pennington Gap, VA
A Lee County Public Schools middle school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
121 Bobcat Circle, Pennington Gap, VA 24277
- Math 76% vs VA 68% (2025)
- Reading 73% vs VA 73% (2025)
- 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pennington Middle score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2019, to 75% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 75% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 75% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Pennington Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 34Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,276/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Pennington Gap), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$33,102
Median home value
$81,200
Median rent
$764/mo
College educated
8.3%
Homeownership
61.6%
Poverty rate
37.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24277; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 in Lee County Public Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elydale MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | 5–7 | Not available | 137 | Compare → |
| Jonesville MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | 5–7 | Not available | 238 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Lee County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #6 of 10
- District spending per student
- $15,131NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pennington Middle is listed in Lee County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pennington Middle
Pennington Middle is a public middle school in Pennington Gap, VA, part of Lee County Public Schools, serving approximately 287 students in grades 5th-7th with a 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #482 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pennington Middle
What grades does Pennington Middle serve?
Pennington Middle serves students in grades 5th through 7th.
How many students attend Pennington Middle?
Pennington Middle has an enrollment of approximately 287 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pennington Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Pennington Middle is 9.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pennington Middle rank in VA?
Pennington Middle ranks #482 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Pennington Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Pennington Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Pennington Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pennington Middle has 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Pennington Middle a charter school?
No, Pennington Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pennington Middle a Title I school?
No, Pennington Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pennington Middle?
100.0% of students at Pennington 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 7th
- Enrollment
- 287
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Lee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 5.6%
- Phone
- (276) 546-1453
- Area population (ZIP 24277)
- 6,379
- Area median age
- 41.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 24277; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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