Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 18 schools in district

S. Gordon Stewart Middle

118 Fort Defiance Rd, Fort Defiance, VA 24437Augusta County Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
502
Students
Total enrolled
$14,259
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
13.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 11% vs nat'l
45/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 11% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 502 students in grades 06–08 in Fort Defiance, Virginia.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,259 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 45th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

S. Gordon Stewart Middle is a large middle in Fort Defiance, Virginia, serving grades 06–08 with 502 students. The district invests $14,259 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 47% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at S. Gordon Stewart Middle

502
Total Students
13.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
47%
Free Lunch
37
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 Distribution245 male · 257 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility47%
National avg 52% · 238 students
Student Composition
83%
9%
White83%
Hispanic / Latino9%
Black3%
Multiracial4%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 510030001830

Academic Outcomes at S. Gordon Stewart Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
45
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 45th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 55th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 24437

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,259Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,259
State avg
$16,302
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,274
Student Support$2,709
Administration$1,711
Operations$2,139
Other$1,426
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,259 spent per student, an estimated $6,317 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
45%
42%
State government
45.2%
Local (property tax)
41.7%
Federal programs
13.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • 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
Edward G. Clymore ElementaryRiverheads ElementaryCassell ElementaryWilson Elementary
+5 more
↓
Middle
WILSON MIDDLEBEVERLEY MANOR MIDDLESTUARTS DRAFT MIDDLE
↓
High School
WILSON MEMORIAL HIGHFort Defiance HighSTUARTS DRAFT HIGHRIVERHEADS HIGH
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyAugusta County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictAugusta County Public Schools →
Phone: (540)245-5046
NCES ID: 510030001830
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Fort Defiance seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Augusta County Public Schools
High
WILSON MEMORIAL HIGH
858 students · 09–12
39% FRL
Elem
Edward G. Clymore Elementary
775 students · PK–05
● 45 opp49% FRL
Elem
Riverheads Elementary
737 students · PK–05
● 43 opp71% FRL
High
Fort Defiance High
727 students · 09–12
● 45 opp41% FRL
High
STUARTS DRAFT HIGH
698 students · 09–12
● 42 opp39% FRL
Elem
Cassell Elementary
661 students · PK–05
● 43 opp74% FRL
Elem
Wilson Elementary
647 students · PK–05
67% FRL
Mid
WILSON MIDDLE
632 students · 06–08
48% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
118 Fort Defiance Rd, Fort Defiance, VA 24437
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.