Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2026)

1200 1208 Polk St
Lynchburg, VA 24504

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Serving 533 students in grades 6-8, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Virginia for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 57% (which is lower than the Virginia state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 66% (which is lower than the Virginia state average of 69%).

The student-teacher ratio of 10:1 is lower than the Virginia state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Virginia state average of 56% (majority Black).

Quick Facts (2026)

School Type: Magnet School
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 533 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 10:1
Minority Enrollment: 69%
: Bottom 50% in VA
: 57% (Btm 50%)
: 66% (Btm 50%)
: 52% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Virginia for:

Category

Attribute

Percent Eligible For Free Lunch

Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 20%)

Student Attention

Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 10%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation's student population of 533 students has declined by 18% over five school years.

The teacher population of 52 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

School Type

Magnet School

Grades Offered

Grades 6-8
(Supplemental Virtual)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation
6	182
7	174
8	177

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Total Students

533 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation
2023	531
2022	554
2021	650
2020	691
2019	691
2018	715
2017	715
2016	684
2015	664
2014	638
2013	639
2012	616
2011	644
2010	627
2009	598
2008	621
2007	620
2006	625
2005	625
2004	657
2003	680
2002	717
2001	714
2000	675
1999	661
1998	690
1997	680
1996	626
1995	606
1994	511
1993	514
1992	528
1991	515
1990	510
1989	481
1988	515
1987	526

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

52 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation
2023	47
2022	56
2021	50
2020	55
2019	55
2018	53
2017	53
2016	52
2015	49
2014	49
2013	50
2012	51
2011	42
2010	45
2009	44
2008	46
2007	60
2006	51
2005	49
2004	52
2003	60
2002	56
2001	53
1999	54
1994	33
1993	34
1992	35
1991	34
1990	35
1989	35
1988	37

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Year Founded

1905

School Calendar

Last Day of School

Thu. May 28, 2026

Campus Size

10 acres

School Motto

Raise The Bar! No excuses.

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,773 schools in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation is 0.65, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.72. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (VA)

#1239 out of 1773 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation
2023	#1239
2022	#1248
2021	#1248
2019	#1171
2018	#1450
2017	#1589
2016	#1499
2015	#1401
2014	#1443
2013	#1518
2012	#1608

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57%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	57%	68%	47%
2021	37%	54%	36%
2019	80%	82%	74%
2017	60%	72%	62%
2016	69%	80%	68%
2015	73%	79%	64%
2014	64%	74%	54%
2013	60%	71%	53%
2012	50%	68%	52%
2011	59%	86%	76%
2010	71%	87%	80%

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(20-21)

66%

69%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2021)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2021	66%	69%	61%
2019	75%	78%	69%
2018	76%	80%
2017	70%	80%	71%
2016	71%	80%	70%
2015	70%	79%	67%
2014	63%	74%	60%
2013	60%	74%	64%
2012	82%	89%	83%
2011	82%	88%	83%
2010	84%	89%	83%

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(20-21)

52%

59%

Student-Teacher Ratio

10:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	11:1	14:1	13:1
2022	10:1	14:1	12:1
2021	13:1	14:1	14:1
2020	13:1	15:1	14:1
2019	13:1	15:1	14:1
2018	13:1	15:1	14:1
2017	13:1	15:1	14:1
2016	13:1	15:1	14:1
2015	14:1	15:1	15:1
2014	13:1	16:1	15:1
2013	13:1	16:1	15:1
2012	12:1	15:1	14:1
2011	15:1	17:1	16:1
2010	14:1	17:1	16:1
2009	14:1	17:1	16:1
2008	14:1	17:1	15:1
2007	10:1	13:1	12:1
2006	12:1	13:1	13:1
2005	13:1	14:1	13:1
2004	13:1	13:1	13:1
2003	11:1	12:1	12:1
2002	13:1	13:1	12:1
2001	13:1	14:1	13:1
1999	12:1	15:1	14:1
1994	16:1	17:1	14:1
1993	15:1	16:1	15:1
1992	15:1	16:1	16:1
1991	15:1	16:1	16:1
1990	15:1	16:1	16:1
1989	14:1	16:1	16:1
1988	14:1	17:1	16:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2021)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2021	1%	8%	2%
2020	2%	7%	3%
2019	2%	7%	3%
2018	1%	7%	2%
2017	1%	7%	2%
2016	1%	8%	2%
2015	1%	6%	3%
2014	1%	7%	2%
2013	2%	7%	3%
2012	1%	6%	3%
2011	3%	7%	3%
2010	2%	7%	4%
2009	2%	7%	4%
2008	2%	6%	3%
2007	1%	6%	3%
2006	1%	6%	3%
2005	1%	6%	2%
2004	1%	6%	2%
2003	1%	5%	2%
2002	1%	5%	2%
2001	1%	4%	1%
2000	2%	4%	1%
1999	1%	4%	1%
1998	1%	4%	1%
1997	1%	4%	1%

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Hispanic

12%

19%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	10%	19%	8%
2022	9%	18%	7%
2021	7%	18%	7%
2020	7%	16%	6%
2019	7%	16%	6%
2018	5%	15%	6%
2017	5%	15%	6%
2016	5%	14%	5%
2015	4%	14%	4%
2014	3%	13%	4%
2013	3%	12%	4%
2012	2%	12%	3%
2011	2%	11%	3%
2010	4%	10%	3%
2009	3%	10%	3%
2008	3%	10%	3%
2007	1%	9%	2%
2006	1%	8%	2%
2005	1%	7%	2%
2004	2%	6%	2%
2003	1%	7%	2%
2002	1%	5%	1%
2001	1%	5%	1%
2000	1%	4%	1%
1999	1%	4%	1%
1998	1%	4%	1%
1997	1%	3%	1%
1996	1%	3%	1%

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Black

49%

22%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	47%	22%	49%
2022	49%	22%	50%
2021	52%	22%	50%
2020	47%	22%	49%
2019	47%	22%	49%
2018	51%	23%	50%
2017	51%	23%	50%
2016	48%	23%	50%
2015	50%	23%	49%
2014	53%	23%	50%
2013	55%	23%	50%
2012	62%	24%	51%
2011	62%	24%	51%
2010	63%	26%	53%
2009	61%	26%	53%
2008	59%	27%	53%
2007	59%	27%	52%
2006	55%	27%	52%
2005	55%	27%	51%
2004	57%	27%	51%
2003	56%	27%	51%
2002	54%	27%	51%
2001	52%	27%	50%
2000	48%	27%	49%
1999	50%	27%	48%
1998	52%	27%	48%
1997	48%	27%	47%
1996	51%	27%	46%
1995	50%	26%	45%
1994	53%	26%	45%
1993	51%	26%	44%

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White

31%

44%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	33%	45%	31%
2022	33%	46%	31%
2021	31%	46%	31%
2020	35%	49%	33%
2019	35%	49%	33%
2018	34%	50%	34%
2017	34%	50%	34%
2016	37%	50%	36%
2015	38%	52%	37%
2014	37%	52%	37%
2013	34%	53%	37%
2012	29%	54%	37%
2011	30%	54%	38%
2010	31%	57%	40%
2009	34%	57%	40%
2008	36%	57%	41%
2007	38%	58%	43%
2006	42%	59%	43%
2005	42%	60%	45%
2004	40%	61%	45%
2003	42%	61%	45%
2002	44%	63%	46%
2001	46%	64%	48%
2000	49%	65%	49%
1999	47%	65%	50%
1998	46%	65%	50%
1997	50%	66%	51%
1996	48%	67%	52%
1995	50%	67%	53%
1994	45%	68%	54%
1993	47%	68%	55%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	10%	7%	10%
2022	9%	7%	10%
2021	9%	6%	10%
2020	9%	6%	9%
2019	9%	6%	9%
2018	9%	5%	8%
2017	9%	5%	8%
2016	8%	5%	7%
2015	7%	5%	7%
2014	6%	5%	7%
2013	6%	5%	6%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.65

0.72

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	0.66	0.71	0.65
2022	0.64	0.70	0.64
2021	0.63	0.70	0.64
2020	0.65	0.68	0.64
2019	0.65	0.68	0.64
2018	0.62	0.67	0.63
2017	0.62	0.67	0.63
2016	0.63	0.68	0.62
2015	0.61	0.66	0.62
2014	0.58	0.66	0.62
2013	0.58	0.65	0.61
2012	0.53	0.64	0.60
2011	0.53	0.64	0.59
2010	0.52	0.62	0.56
2009	0.53	0.60	0.55
2008	0.53	0.60	0.55
2007	0.51	0.59	0.55
2006	0.53	0.58	0.54
2005	0.53	0.57	0.54
2004	0.52	0.55	0.54
2003	0.52	0.55	0.54
2002	0.52	0.53	0.53
2001	0.52	0.52	0.52
2000	0.53	0.51	0.52
1999	0.53	0.51	0.53
1998	0.52	0.50	0.53
1997	0.52	0.49	0.52
1996	0.51	0.48	0.52
1995	0.51	0.49	0.52
1994	0.52	0.47	0.52
1993	0.52	0.47	0.51

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Eligible for

94%

55%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2023	95%	52%	94%
2022	99%	41%	78%
2021	58%	35%	68%
2020	88%	39%	74%
2019	88%	39%	74%
2018	52%	35%	65%
2017	52%	35%	65%
2016	42%	35%	63%
2015	55%	34%	56%
2014	59%	33%	57%
2013	63%	32%	56%
2012	64%	32%	54%
2011	59%	31%	53%
2010	58%	29%	50%
2009	54%	26%	47%
2008	52%	25%	45%
2007	56%	24%	44%
2006	54%	24%	46%
2005	51%	24%	46%
2004	57%	23%	44%
2003	51%	23%	41%
2002	48%	23%	38%
2001	40%	21%	37%
2000	39%	23%	36%
1999	36%	24%	37%
1998	44%	24%	38%
1997	39%	24%	36%
1996	37%	24%	35%

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Eligible for (20-21)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2021)
Year	Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation	Virginia	Lynchburg City Public Schools
2021	6%	6%	4%
2018	5%	6%	3%
2017	5%	6%	3%
2016	3%	6%	2%
2015	6%	6%	5%
2014	5%	6%	5%
2013	5%	6%	6%
2012	6%	7%	6%
2011	8%	6%	6%
2010	10%	7%	6%
2009	8%	7%	6%
2008	10%	7%	6%
2007	10%	7%	5%
2006	7%	7%	5%
2005	7%	7%	5%
2004	7%	7%	5%
2003	6%	7%	5%
2002	7%	7%	5%
2001	7%	7%	5%
2000	6%	7%	5%
1999	4%	6%	3%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Lynchburg City Public Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation's ranking?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation is ranked #1239 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Virginia.

What schools are Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation often compared to?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovationis often viewed alongside schools like Linkhorne Middle School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

57% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% VA state average), while 66% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 69% VA state average).

How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation?

533 students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

49% of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation students are Black, 31% of students are White, 12% of students are Hispanic, and 8% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation has a student ration of 10:1, which is lower than the Virginia state average of 14:1.

What grades does Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation offer ?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation offers enrollment in grades 6-8 (Supplemental Virtual).

What school district is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation part of?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation is part of Lynchburg City Public Schools.

In what neighborhood is Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation located?

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle For Innovation is located in the Diamond Hill neighborhood of Lynchburg, VA. There are 1 other public schools located in Diamond Hill.

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