Summary:
The Bedford County Public Schools district in Virginia is home to three middle schools: Forest Middle, Staunton River Middle, and Liberty Middle. Among these, Forest Middle stands out as the top-performing school, consistently ranking among the best middle schools in Virginia and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Forest Middle boasts a more diverse student population, with a higher percentage of African American, Hispanic, and Asian students compared to the other two schools. Additionally, its students consistently outperform the district and state averages in all subject areas and grade levels, with many scoring 100% proficient or better in Algebra I and Geometry. In contrast, Staunton River Middle and Liberty Middle have lower test scores, with some areas falling below the district and state averages.
The economic differences between the schools are also notable. Staunton River Middle and Liberty Middle have significantly higher percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at over 85%, compared to just 22.53% at Forest Middle. Despite the higher spending per student at Staunton River Middle and Liberty Middle, this does not appear to translate into better academic outcomes, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as teaching quality, curriculum, and school leadership, may play a more significant role in student achievement.
Thank you for your feedback!