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Franklin County Courthouse Rocky Mount VirginiaPhoto: MarmadukePercy · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−
Schools in Rocky Mount · Franklin County Public Schools

Rocky Mount’s public schools outscore 80% of Virginia districts

69% of students in Rocky Mount’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Virginia average (54%). The grade covers the public school district serving Rocky Mount, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Virginia, not nationally.

#48of 250 Virginia townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Virginia state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Math proficiency
69%
▲ 15 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
87%
▼ 2 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.1K
▼ 6% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.8
VA 13.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
3,944 students on the public path
In brief

Rocky Mount’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 221 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Rocky Mount’s, its schools beat 86%, higher than their 80% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,139 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Benjamin Franklin Middle, then Franklin County High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Christian Heritage Academy (private) and Lifes Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Rocky Mount’s grade

A Test scoresC Graduation

A−: better than 80% of Virginia school districts, #48 of 250 Virginia towns. Test scores are above the Virginia average; graduation is below it.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 80%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (221)Better than 86%
B+AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,278 test results and a graduating class of 492 could put Rocky Mount anywhere from B+ to A. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Rocky Mount’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,278 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Rocky Mount, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−
6–8Benjamin Franklin MiddleFranklin County Public SchoolsB
9–12Franklin County HighFranklin County Public SchoolsA

Rocky Mount’s public schools are run by Franklin County Public Schools, which also serves Boones Mill. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Franklin County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 6,109 students · 10.8 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$16,139VA $17,169 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math69%
State average 54.4% · 3278 students tested

Rocky Mount vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Rocky Mount’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Rocky MountA−Franklin County

Every school in Rocky Mount

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Virginia’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Rocky Mountby address
Lee M. Waid Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
386 students11:1Rate it →
Rocky Mount Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
296 students8:1Rate it →
Benjamin Franklin Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
1,382 students10:1Rate it →
Franklin County High
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,880 students10:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Christian Heritage Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
338 students13:1Rate it →
Lifes Academy
Grades 6–10
Private · Special education · All-boys
7 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Rocky Mount’s schools

Are Rocky Mount’s schools good?

By Virginia’s own tests, yes: the public schools Rocky Mount children attend outscore 80% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #48 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 86%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rocky Mount in?

Franklin County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,109 students in 12 schools (2024–25).

Where do Rocky Mount kids go to high school?

Franklin County High, with 1,880 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Rocky Mount’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Franklin County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Rocky Mount spend per student?

$16,139 in Franklin County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Rocky Mount?

Yes: Christian Heritage Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 338 students) and Lifes Academy (special education · all-boys, grades 6–10, 7 students).

Parents talk

What Rocky Mount families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rocky Mount → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Virginia. Stars are from neighbors.