J Sam Gentry Middle

Located at 1915 W Pine Street, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, J Sam Gentry Middle is a low-enrollment intermediate school that caters to 320 students (grades 6 through 8), run under Surry County Schools. That puts it 47% leaner than the typical public school in North Carolina, which averages around 605 students.

J Sam Gentry Middle is one of 20 schools operated by Surry County Schools, a district that educates 7,318 students overall.

On demographics, J Sam Gentry Middle lists that White students make up the majority at 70%; the rest comes out to 25% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 84% White, putting the school's mix visibly less White than the area baseline.

In terms of school funding signals, The school reports having 22 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.4:1. The state averages around 15.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 99% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, J Sam Gentry Middle tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 48.6% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 53.2%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Surry County put median household earnings sit near $55,656, about 20% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 13%. J Sam Gentry Middle is one of 30 public schools in Surry County (combined enrollment of about 11,139 students).

Nearest neighbor: North Surry High, around 1.1 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around J Sam Gentry Middle. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts J Sam Gentry Middle at 4th of 7; the average score across the group is 51.3%.

J Sam Gentry Middle operates from an outlying location.

Five-year trend. J Sam Gentry Middle's enrollment has edged down 12% since 2018, when it stood at 365 (now 320). Over the same period, the White share fell from 81% to 70%. Class-load math has grew: from 13.4:1 in 2018 to 14.4:1 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.