Sussex Central Middle

Q: Is Sussex Central Middle a good school?

Sussex Central Middle ranks 304 th of 417 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Sussex Central Middle is a public middle school located in Sussex, Virginia, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 236 students. The school is part of the Sussex County Public Schools district, which is ranked 76 out of 130 districts in Virginia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

One key differentiator for Sussex Central Middle is its significantly higher percentage of African American students (72.46%) compared to the nearby schools like Vernon Johns Middle, Southampton Middle, and J.E.J. Moore Middle, which have a more diverse racial makeup. Academically, Sussex Central Middle's performance, as measured by SOL test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages across various subjects and grade levels, with proficiency rates in Mathematics ranging from 28.57% to 50% compared to the state averages of 50.1% to 59.41%.

Despite these challenges, Sussex Central Middle has some bright spots. The school's Algebra I performance is exceptional, with 100% of students proficient or better in this subject for the past few years, outperforming the state and district averages. Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.2 to 11.8 over the past few years, suggesting a more favorable learning environment compared to the nearby schools. However, the school faces significant economic disadvantages, with an exceptionally high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 95.54% to 101.69% over the past few years, and lower spending per student compared to the nearby schools.

Detail:

Public 6-8

21356 Sussex Drive
Sussex, VA 23882

(434) 246-2251

District: Sussex County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
304^th of 417 Virginia Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $3,793

Students who attend Sussex Central Middle usually attend:

High:

Sussex Central High

Feeder schools for Sussex Central Middle:

Elementary:

Sussex Central Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 10.0

Number of students: 225

Racial breakdown:

African American:

67.6%

White:

22.2%

Hispanic:

6.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Sussex Central Middle ranks worse than 72.9% of middle schools in Virginia. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.11. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (67.6%), White (22.2%), Hispanic (6.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sussex Central Middle is 10. (See more...)

Compare Sussex Central Middle employs 22.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sussex Central Middle is $3,793.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sussex Central Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Sussex Central Middle 304^th of 417 Virginia public middle schools. (See Sussex Central Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Sussex County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Sussex County Public Schools 76^th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Sussex Central Middle

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Rank History for all students at Sussex Central Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile
2015	31.53	308^th	412	25.2%
2016	30.49	315^th	409	23.0%
2017	37.71	279^th	415	32.8%
2018	47.55	227^th	413	45.0%
2019	52.92	203^rd	424	52.1%
2021	19.39	359^th	419	14.3%
2022	46.20	218^th	415	47.5%
2023	37.29	283^rd	422	32.9%
2024	33.11	304^th	417	27.1%

See the entire list of Virginia Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sussex Central Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	44.38	232^nd	402	42.3%

See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sussex Central Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	39.07	276^th	411	32.8%
2024	35.74	285^th	407	30.0%

See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sussex Central Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	36.92	275^th	409	32.8%
2024	33.11	291^st	407	28.5%

See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Sussex Central Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	54.99	131^st	298	56.0%
2024	42.07	185^th	299	38.1%

See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Sussex Central Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	30.36	314^th	402	21.9%
2024	32.30	300^th	396	24.2%

See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Virginia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Sussex Central Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2014	67	215	1	3	1	0	287
2015	53	200	1	6	2	1	263
2016	44	189	1	8	0	4	246
2017	46	174	0	11	0	8	239
2018	50	162	0	15	0	7	234
2019	50	161	3	14	0	7	235
2020	47	174	3	12	0	5	241
2021	46	191	1	10	2	3	253
2022	43	165	0	12	1	3	224
2023	45	171	1	12	1	6	236
2024	50	152	2	15	0	6	225

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sussex Central Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	287	25.2	11.3	81.9
2015	263	23.0	11.4	87.5
2016	246	23.0	10.6	79.7
2017	239	22.2	10.7	79.5
2018	234	22.2	10.5	79.5
2019	235	19.2	12.2	88.1
2020	241	21.0	11.4	88.8
2021	253	22.2	11.3	n/a
2022	224	21.8	10.2	95.5
2023	236	20.0	11.8	101.7
2024	225	22.5	10.0	100.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sussex Central Middle

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	287	25.2	11.3	81.9
2015	263	23.0	11.4	87.5
2016	246	23.0	10.6	79.7
2017	239	22.2	10.7	79.5
2018	234	22.2	10.5	79.5
2019	235	19.2	12.2	88.1
2020	241	21.0	11.4	88.8
2021	253	22.2	11.3	n/a
2022	224	21.8	10.2	95.5
2023	236	20.0	11.8	101.7
2024	225	22.5	10.0	100.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sussex Central Middle

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$00 (0.0%)	$2,752 (100.0%)	$2,752
2020	$00 (0.0%)	$3,707 (100.0%)	$3,707
2021	$00 (0.0%)	$3,793 (100.0%)	$3,793

Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sussex Central Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 203^rd of 424 Middle schools	Ranks 283^rd of 422 Middle schools	19.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (Sussex Central Middle)	78	48.2	29.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Sussex County Public Schools)	77	48.2	28.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)	78	57.8	20.2%
6th Grade English Reading (Sussex Central Middle)	75	65	10%
6th Grade English Reading (Sussex County Public Schools)	74	65	9%
6th Grade English Reading (Virginia)	77	70.4	6.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Sussex Central Middle)	80	25	55%
7th Grade Mathematics (Sussex County Public Schools)	79	25	54%
7th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)	78	51.4	26.6%
7th Grade English Reading (Sussex Central Middle)	76	80	4%
7th Grade English Reading (Sussex County Public Schools)	75	80	5%
7th Grade English Reading (Virginia)	79	70.3	8.7%
8th Grade Writing (Sussex Central Middle)	74	53.1	20.9%
8th Grade Writing (Sussex County Public Schools)	74	53.1	20.9%
8th Grade Writing (Virginia)	70	55.5	14.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Sussex Central Middle)	85	29	56%
8th Grade Mathematics (Sussex County Public Schools)	84	29	55%
8th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)	77	48.4	28.6%
8th Grade Science (Sussex Central Middle)	86	51.9	34.1%
8th Grade Science (Sussex County Public Schools)	85	51.9	33.1%
8th Grade Science (Virginia)	78	60.7	17.3%
8th Grade English Reading (Sussex Central Middle)	75	59.5	15.5%
8th Grade English Reading (Sussex County Public Schools)	74	59.5	14.5%
8th Grade English Reading (Virginia)	76	70.7	5.3%
End of Course Algebra I (Sussex Central Middle)	100	100
End of Course Algebra I (Sussex County Public Schools)	84	76	8%
End of Course Algebra I (Virginia)	86	80	6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	235	236	0.4%
African American	161	171	6.2%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	3	1	66.7%
Hispanic	14	12	14.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	50	45	10%
Two or More Races	7	6	14.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	88.1%	101.7%	13.6%

Schools Near Sussex Central Middle

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SOL Geometry (2024)	SOL Algebra I (2024)		SOL Mathematics (2024)			SOL Science (2024)	SOL English Reading (2024)			SOL Civics and Economics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sussex Central Middle	Public	6-8	21356 Sussex Drive	Sussex	23882	Sussex County	Sussex County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(434) 246-2251	225	23	10.0	100.9%	50 (22.2%)	152 (67.6%)	15 (6.7%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.7%)	33.1	304^th of 417 public middle schools	27.1%		37.3	283^rd of 422 public middle schools	32.9%	21			100.0	50.0	40.4	28.6	53.4	59.7	67.5	65.8	70.7	$3,793	$00	$3,793
J.E.J. Moore Middle	Public	6-8	11455 Prince George Dr	Disputanta	23842	Prince George County	Prince George County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 733-2740	1,395	69	20.1	37.7%	615 (44.1%)	438 (31.4%)	223 (16.0%)	12 (0.9%)	6 (0.4%)	5 (0.4%)	96 (6.9%)	61.8	161^st of 417 public middle schools	61.4%		55.2	197^th of 422 public middle schools	53.3%	36	100.0	100.0	98.9	70.7	69.5	56.9	58.2	76.1	81.2	74.1	70.9	$8,688	$519	$8,169
Southampton Middle	Public	6-8	23450 Southampton Pkwy	Courtland	23837	Southampton County	Southampton County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 653-9250	532	34	15.7	76.1%	281 (52.8%)	218 (41.0%)	12 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	16 (3.0%)	27.5	326^th of 417 public middle schools	21.8%		34.6	299^th of 422 public middle schools	29.1%	27			100.0	40.1	40.3	38.2	59.8	63.7	66.5	63.5	39.2	$6,779	$68	$6,711
Vernon Johns Middle	Public	6-8	3101 Homestead Drive	Petersburg	23805	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 862-7020	901	59	15.1	101.8%	30 (3.3%)	780 (86.6%)	76 (8.4%)	5 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (0.9%)	4.3	408^th of 417 public middle schools	2.2%		4	411^th of 422 public middle schools	2.6%	3			69.2	20.7	11.2	24.2	32.1	43.0	42.2	38.4	54.3	$8,038	$1,510	$6,528

Frequently Asked Questions about Sussex Central Middle

What is the racial makeup of Sussex Central Middle?

Students at Sussex Central Middle are 68% African American, 22% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Sussex Central Middle in?

Sussex County Public Schools

How many students attend Sussex Central Middle?

In the 2023-24 school year, 225 students attended Sussex Central Middle.

What high school do graduates of Sussex Central Middle attend?

Students who attend Sussex Central Middle usually go on to attend Sussex Central High

Is Sussex Central Middle a good school?

Sussex Central Middle ranks 304^th of 417 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Sussex Central Middle!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.