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 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 1,863 students in Portsmouth City School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Virginia.
Public Middle Schools in Portsmouth City School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Virginia public middle school average of 65%), and reading proficiency score of 72% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Virginia public middle school average of 54% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
23 Schools
451 Schools
# Students
12,905 Students
315,424 Students
# Teachers
936 Teachers
23,174 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Portsmouth City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 131 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#113 out of 132 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
68%
Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)58%
69%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)47%
59%
Graduation Rate
81%
88.8%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)29.7%
19.1%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.49
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
8%
Showing 2010–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
8%
18%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
69%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% White
15%
46%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
7%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,228 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,383. The school district revenue/student has grown by 21% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,205 is less than the state median of $18,168. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$235 MM
$23,109 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$209 MM
$22,838 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$18,228
$18,383
Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$16,205
$18,168
Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Portsmouth City School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Churchland Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4051 River Shore Rd
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2512
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 686-2512
Gr: 7-8 | 798 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #22.
William E. Waters Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
600 Roosevelt Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 558-2813
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 558-2813
Gr: 7-8 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #33.
Cradock Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
21 Alden Ave
Portsmouth, VA 23702
(757) 393-8788
Portsmouth, VA 23702
(757) 393-8788
Gr: 7-8 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
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