Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 20 schools in district

J Sam Gentry Middle

1915 W Pine Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030Surry County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
363
Students
Total enrolled
$13,317
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 7% vs nat'l
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 7% vs nat'l
42/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 363 students in grades 06–08 in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,317 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 42th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

J Sam Gentry Middle is a mid-sized middle in Mount Airy, North Carolina, serving grades 06–08 with 363 students. The district invests $13,317 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 61% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at J Sam Gentry Middle

363
Total Students
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
61%
Free Lunch
25
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution183 male · 180 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility61%
National avg 52% · 221 students
Student Composition
69%
26%
White69%
Hispanic / Latino26%
Black1%
Multiracial5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370441001751

Academic Outcomes at J Sam Gentry Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
42
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 42th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 39th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 27030

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,317Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,317
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,860
Student Support$2,530
Administration$1,598
Operations$1,998
Other$1,332
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,317 spent per student, an estimated $5,899 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
60%
16%
State government
60.1%
Local (property tax)
15.6%
Federal programs
24.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Franklin ElementaryCedar Ridge ElementaryPilot Mountain ElementaryRockford Elementary
+7 more
↓
Middle
Central MiddlePilot Mountain MiddleMeadowview Magnet Middle
↓
High School
North Surry HighSurry Central HighEast Surry HighSurry Early College
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountySurry County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictSurry County Schools →
Phone: (336)786-4155
NCES ID: 370441001751
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Mount Airy seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Surry County Schools
High
North Surry High
843 students · 09–12
● 42 opp62% FRL
High
Surry Central High
669 students · 09–12
● 38 opp64% FRL
High
East Surry High
594 students · 09–12
● 43 opp45% FRL
Mid
Central Middle
490 students · 06–08
● 38 opp70% FRL
Elem
Franklin Elementary
456 students · PK–05
● 42 opp75% FRL
Mid
Pilot Mountain Middle
454 students · 06–08
● 43 opp57% FRL
Elem
Cedar Ridge Elementary
364 students · PK–05
73% FRL
Mid
Meadowview Magnet Middle
349 students · 06–08
● 42 opp75% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1915 W Pine Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.