Top Rankings
Portsmouth City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Virginia for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 23 public schools serving 13,161 students in Portsmouth City School District. This district's average testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Virginia.
Public Schools in Portsmouth City School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Virginia public school average of 54%), and reading proficiency score of 58% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Virginia public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
23 Schools
2,143 Schools
# Students
13,161 Students
1,257,585 Students
# Teachers
916 Teachers
92,187 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Portsmouth City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 135 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#111 out of 135 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)34%
54%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)58%
69%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)47%
59%
Graduation Rate
81%
89%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.48
0.72
# American Indian Students
54 Students
3,271 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
81 Students
96,235 Students
% Asian Students
1%
8%
# Hispanic Students
886 Students
243,979 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
19%
# Black Students
9,209 Students
270,294 Students
% Black Students
70%
22%
# White Students
2,073 Students
555,515 Students
% White Students
16%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
30 Students
1,963 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
828 Students
86,328 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
7%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
535
34,534
# Students in K Grade:
1,027
85,239
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,039
89,472
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,071
93,456
# Students in 3rd Grade:
986
89,973
# Students in 4th Grade:
963
91,712
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,023
92,190
# Students in 6th Grade:
943
93,262
# Students in 7th Grade:
986
93,323
# Students in 8th Grade:
942
93,990
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,137
105,013
# Students in 10th Grade:
913
103,738
# Students in 11th Grade:
803
97,088
# Students in 12th Grade:
793
94,595
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,230 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,502. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,180 is less than the state median of $15,257. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$200 MM
$19,496 MM

Spending
$187 MM
$19,187 MM

Revenue / Student
$15,230
$15,502

Spending / Student
$14,180
$15,257

Best Portsmouth City School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Churchland Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4051 River Shore Rd
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2512
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2512
Grades: 7-8
| 840 students
Rank: #22.
Churchland High School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4301 Cedar Ln
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2500
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2500
Grades: 9-12
| 1,452 students
Rank: #33.
Manor High School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1401 Elmhurst Ln
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2907
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2907
Grades: 9-12
| 1,167 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Churchland Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5601 Michael Ln
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2523
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2523
Grades: K-6
| 760 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
William E. Waters Middle School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
600 Roosevelt Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 558-2813
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 558-2813
Grades: 7-8
| 562 students
Rank: #66.
I.c. Norcom High School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1801 London Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-5442
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-5442
Grades: 9-12
| 1,027 students
Rank: #77.
Cradock Middle School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
21 Alden Ave
Portsmouth, VA 23702
(757) 393-8788
Portsmouth, VA 23702
(757) 393-8788
Grades: 7-8
| 526 students
Rank: #88.
Victory Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2828 Greenwood Drive
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 393-8806
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 393-8806
Grades: K-6
| 570 students
Rank: #99.
Churchland Primary & Intermediate
(Math: 33% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5700 Hedgerow Ln
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2519
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2519
Grades: K-6
| 511 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Hodges Manor Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1201 Cherokee Rd
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2921
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2921
Grades: K-6
| 457 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Simonsdale Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4841 Clifford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2917
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2917
Grades: K-6
| 609 students
Rank: #1212.
Churchland Academy Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4061 River Shore Rd
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2527
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2527
Grades: K-6
| 600 students
Rank: #1313.
Westhaven Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3701 Clifford St
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8855
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8855
Grades: K-6
| 474 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Lakeview Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1300 Horne Ave
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2901
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2901
Grades: K-6
| 405 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Park View Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
260 Elm Ave
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-8647
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-8647
Grades: K-6
| 473 students
Rank: #1616.
Cradock Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
18 Dahlgren Ave
Portsmouth, VA 23702
(757) 558-2811
Portsmouth, VA 23702
(757) 558-2811
Grades: K-6
| 606 students
Rank: #1717.
Waterview Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3649 Hartford St
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8879
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8879
Grades: K-6
| 614 students
Rank: #1818.
Douglass Park Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
34 Grand St
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 393-8646
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 393-8646
Grades: K-6
| 528 students
Rank: #1919.
Brighton Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1100 Portsmouth Blvd.
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-8870
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-8870
Grades: K-6
| 445 students
Rank: n/an/a
4061 River Shore Road
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2533
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2533
Grades: PK
| 114 students
Rank: n/an/a
3000 North St.
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8825
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8825
Grades: PK
| 227 students
Rank: n/an/a
New Directions Center
Alternative School
401 West Road
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8728
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 393-8728
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
415 Mimosa Road
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2926
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-2926
Grades: PK
| 194 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Portsmouth City School District?
Portsmouth City School District manages 23 public schools serving 13,161 students.
What is the rank of Portsmouth City School District?
Portsmouth City School District is ranked #113 out of 135 school districts in Virginia (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2020-2021 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Virginia school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Portsmouth City School District?
70% of Portsmouth City School District students are Black, 16% of students are White, 7% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Portsmouth City School District?
Portsmouth City School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the Virginia state average of 14:1.
What is Portsmouth City School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,180 is less than the state median of $15,257. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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