Best Public Schools in Portsmouth, VA

Summary:

The city of Portsmouth, Virginia is home to 19 schools, including 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools. The schools serve a diverse student population, with a majority of African American students and varying percentages of white students across the district.

Among the standout schools in the area, Churchland High School ranks the highest, outperforming the Portsmouth City Public Schools and Virginia state averages in many subject areas. Simonsdale Elementary also stands out as the highest-ranked elementary school in the district, with strong student proficiency rates across multiple grade levels. However, the data reveals significant performance gaps, with some schools, such as Douglass Park Elementary and Cradock Middle, struggling with very low proficiency rates in core subjects.

The high rates of free and reduced lunch across the district, ranging from 96.84% to 117.95%, suggest a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and academic performance. This highlights the need for targeted interventions and equitable resource allocation to address the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students. By identifying and replicating the successful practices of the higher-performing schools, the Portsmouth City Public Schools can work to improve educational outcomes for all students in the area.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SOL Writing (2024)		SOL Geometry (2024)			SOL Algebra I (2024)						SOL Algebra II (2024)	SOL Mathematics (2024)						SOL Biology (2024)				SOL Science (2024)		SOL Earth Science (2024)			SOL English Reading (2024)									SOL VA and US History (2024)		SOL World History I (2024)				SOL World History II (2024)	SOL Civics and Economics (2024)	SOL VA Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Churchland High	Public, Magnet	9-12	4301 Cedar Ln	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 686-2500	1,435	94	15.2	100.2%	275 (19.2%)	986 (68.7%)	81 (5.6%)	15 (1.0%)	3 (0.2%)	9 (0.6%)	66 (4.6%)	66.8	102^nd of 329 public high schools	69.0%		46.6	209^th of 326 public high schools	35.9%	107	69.2	50.0		90.5				92.2	94.4	95.0	95.7	87.5							91.2	70.4	65.6	95.6			70.0	50.0	70.0								89.5	93.2	31.5	57.9	94.7	100.0	100.0	100.0	8.0			$8,171	$34	$8,137
Cradock Middle	Public	7-8	21 Alden Ave	Portsmouth	23702	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 393-8788	533	41	13.0	100.0%	39 (7.3%)	420 (78.8%)	40 (7.5%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.3%)	11.5	387^th of 417 public middle schools	7.2%		8.7	401^st of 422 public middle schools	5.0%	14			85.0			100.0	97.1										23.2	24.9						42.1								47.9	53.9											46.8		$9,577	$388	$9,188
Churchland Elementary	Public	K-6	5601 Michael Ln	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 686-2523	767	43	17.8	98.3%	257 (33.5%)	358 (46.7%)	68 (8.9%)	12 (1.6%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	66 (8.6%)	54.5	563^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	49.5%		56.7	526^th of 1114 public elementary schools	52.8%	37													67.0	74.1	64.6	67.9							64.6					65.2	80.0	70.9	78.7														77.7	$9,878	$162	$9,716
Churchland Middle	Public	7-8	4051 River Shore Rd	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 686-2512	890	60	14.8	99.6%	167 (18.8%)	631 (70.9%)	44 (4.9%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (4.7%)	21.2	356^th of 417 public middle schools	14.6%		26.8	337^th of 422 public middle schools	20.1%	19			77.8			87.5	93.0										14.3	37.6						47.2								59.5	63.1											58.5		$8,154	$147	$8,007
Churchland Primary & Intermediate	Public	K-6	5700 Hedgerow Ln	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 686-2519	541	37	14.6	99.8%	59 (10.9%)	406 (75.0%)	33 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (7.8%)	56.6	529^th of 1114 public elementary schools	52.5%		53.3	571^st of 1114 public elementary schools	48.7%	42													75.4	76.8	67.7	69.5							77.4					66.7	76.8	62.9	67.8														74.4	$6,268	$451	$5,818
Douglass Park Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-6	34 Grand St	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(757) 393-8646	550	40	13.7	98.2%	9 (1.6%)	498 (90.5%)	26 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.1%)	1.4	1109^th of 1114 public elementary schools	0.4%		3.2	1093^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	1.9%	16													23.2	27.1	13.7	16.9							13.7					43.5	45.6	31.0	28.2														11.9	$9,106	$947	$8,159
Hodges Manor Elementary	Public	K-6	1201 Cherokee Rd	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 465-2921	499	31	16.0	100.0%	92 (18.4%)	343 (68.7%)	23 (4.6%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (6.8%)	11.9	1006^th of 1114 public elementary schools	9.7%		19.6	941^st of 1114 public elementary schools	15.5%	65													26.2	50.8	41.0	55.7							41.0					42.2	50.8	48.3	65.6														34.4	$8,427	$535	$7,893
I.C. Norcom High	Public, Magnet	9-12	1801 London Blvd	Portsmouth	23704	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 393-5442	1,043	86	12.1	99.9%	41 (3.9%)	921 (88.3%)	46 (4.4%)	5 (0.5%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (2.5%)	29.4	291^st of 329 public high schools	11.6%		17.9	315^th of 326 public high schools	3.4%	24	59.0	55.6		58.5	26.1			76.2	70.8		64.3	100.0							78.0	59.2	45.2	92.9												63.6	73.7	59.5	33.8	72.7	54.4	34.5		89.5	22.5			$9,148	$349	$8,799
Cradock Elementary	Public	K-6	18 Dahlgren Ave	Portsmouth	23702	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 558-2811	622	43	14.4	97.6%	78 (12.5%)	432 (69.5%)	54 (8.7%)	6 (1.0%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (7.6%)	5.3	1077^th of 1114 public elementary schools	3.3%		6.4	1067^th of 1114 public elementary schools	4.2%	10													45.2	42.5	22.2	32.0							23.5					40.5	51.3	38.0	56.8														35.5	$8,379	$801	$7,577
Waterview Elementary	Public	K-6	3649 Hartford St	Portsmouth	23707	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 393-8879	639	41	15.5	98.3%	98 (15.3%)	447 (70.0%)	43 (6.7%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (7.0%)	7.4	1057^th of 1114 public elementary schools	5.1%		7.6	1050^th of 1114 public elementary schools	5.7%	7													40.7	32.9	36.0	60.7							35.6					42.0	43.2	47.2	53.2														20.7	$8,411	$1,299	$7,112
Lakeview Elementary	Public	K-6	1300 Horne Ave	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 465-2901	419	32	13.0	99.8%	22 (5.3%)	359 (85.7%)	20 (4.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	14 (3.3%)	15	981^st of 1114 public elementary schools	11.9%		22.4	914^th of 1114 public elementary schools	18.0%	67													63.3	40.9	49.1	43.6							45.6					61.2	56.7	56.1	47.3														37.9	$9,054	$679	$8,375
Manor High	Public, Magnet	9-12	1401 Elmhurst Ln	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 465-2907	1,236	102	12.1	99.0%	289 (23.4%)	809 (65.5%)	71 (5.7%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	58 (4.7%)	36.2	258^th of 329 public high schools	21.6%		40.1	240^th of 326 public high schools	26.4%	18	57.2	69.6		95.2				68.2	81.3			100.0							71.4	73.2	73.2	70.0													84.4	72.7	40.5		49.2	55.6						$8,672	$75	$8,597
Simonsdale Elementary	Public	K-6	4841 Clifford Street	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 465-2917	612	42	14.5	100.3%	279 (45.6%)	232 (37.9%)	40 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	55 (9.0%)	31.3	819^th of 1114 public elementary schools	26.5%		42.3	699^th of 1114 public elementary schools	37.3%	120													62.7	54.8	51.1	50.0							54.4					61.0	69.4	64.1	72.3														61.3	$9,398	$958	$8,441
Park View Elementary	Public	K-6	260 Elm Ave	Portsmouth	23704	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 393-8647	463	31	14.9	99.4%	33 (7.1%)	372 (80.3%)	26 (5.6%)	4 (0.9%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.5%)	27.3	873^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	21.6%		23.2	905^th of 1114 public elementary schools	18.8%	32													52.2	69.0	49.1	62.8							25.5					46.8	71.2	38.2	68.6														62.7	$8,625	$839	$7,786
Westhaven Elementary	Public	K-6	3701 Clifford St	Portsmouth	23707	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 393-8855	442	33	13.3	100.0%	99 (22.4%)	280 (63.3%)	32 (7.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (6.1%)	6.4	1065^th of 1114 public elementary schools	4.4%		3.5	1091^st of 1114 public elementary schools	2.1%	26													59.6	36.7	20.0	32.3							19.4					60.9	38.3	33.9	41.9														15.0	$9,728	$1,170	$8,558
William E. Waters Middle	Public	7-8	600 Roosevelt Blvd	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 558-2813	534	43	12.4	98.9%	117 (21.9%)	377 (70.6%)	16 (3.0%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.2%)	21.6	351^st of 417 public middle schools	15.8%		17.1	376^th of 422 public middle schools	10.9%	25			100.0			100.0	91.2										29.3	39.0						41.5								61.4	60.3											57.2		$10,352	$390	$9,962
Churchland Academy Elementary	Public	K-6	4061 River Shore Rd	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 686-2527	585	43	13.6	117.9%	61 (10.4%)	435 (74.4%)	43 (7.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	40 (6.8%)	42.7	698^th of 1114 public elementary schools	37.3%		35.4	781^st of 1114 public elementary schools	29.9%	83													74.4	68.8	64.7	40.9							60.0					70.9	75.3	70.6	56.8														68.8	$7,910	$511	$7,399
Brighton Elementary	Public	K-6	1100 Portsmouth Blvd.	Portsmouth	23704	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 393-8870	411	28	14.6	96.8%	6 (1.5%)	359 (87.3%)	20 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.8%)	12.8	997^th of 1114 public elementary schools	10.5%		9	1038^th of 1114 public elementary schools	6.8%	41													51.6	63.5	41.2	49.2							26.5					55.6	49.2	50.8	50.0														20.6	$10,474	$1,807	$8,667
Victory Elementary	Public	K-6	2828 Greenwood Drive	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 393-8806	589	33	17.8	117.0%	102 (17.3%)	385 (65.4%)	51 (8.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	46 (7.8%)	28.1	863^rd of 1114 public elementary schools	22.5%		41.5	706^th of 1114 public elementary schools	36.6%	157													53.9	58.9	55.4	68.5							59.5					54.4	63.0	60.3	65.3														47.9	$8,593	$712	$7,881

Cities Near Portsmouth

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Chesapeake	2.28 mi	53	123^rd
Norfolk	4.84 mi	59	320^th
Suffolk	5.92 mi	23	231^st
Virginia Beach	8.67 mi	89	119^th
Newport News	11.79 mi	49	340^th

See the top VA Virginia cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.