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B.C. Charles Elementary

Q: Is B.C. Charles Elementary a good school?

B.C. Charles Elementary ranks 770 th of 1110 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

770^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,110 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

B.C. Charles Elementary is a public elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, serving 397 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Newport News City Public Schools district, which is ranked 111 out of 129 districts in the state.

B.C. Charles Elementary faces several challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, lower-than-average test scores, and a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The school's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past decade, suggesting it is struggling to keep pace with other elementary schools in Virginia. Compared to nearby schools like David A. Dutrow Elementary, B.C. Charles Elementary generally underperforms on key metrics such as test scores and chronic absenteeism rates.

Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, the academic performance of B.C. Charles Elementary suggests that the resources may not be effectively utilized to support student learning and achievement. This raises questions about the school's resource allocation and the effectiveness of its instructional practices. The school's diverse student population and the varying performance of different subgroups indicate the need for a comprehensive review of strategies to support all students and address the underlying factors contributing to the school's challenges.

388

Students ?

20.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,075

Per pupil spending ?

99.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

701 Menchville Road
Newport News, VA 23602

(757) 886-7750

District: Newport News City Public Schools

Students who attend B.C. Charles Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle
High:	Menchville High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

40.7%

White:

36.3%

Hispanic:

11.3%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare B.C. Charles Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 23rd percentile in 2015 → 31st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2015

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Newport News City Public Schools

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (64% vs 71% meeting standards)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school64%

District avg58%

Virginia avg71%

770^th of 1,110

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 23% (2015) to bottom 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 24Elementary Schools in the Newport News City Public Schools

111^th of 129Newport News City Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	770 of 1110	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.4	872 of 1114	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	911 of 1114	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.2	937 of 1109	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.9	883 of 1103	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.8	850 of 1105	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	60.6	462 of 1097	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	33.2	848 of 1099	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.8	833 of 1096	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	33.0	842 of 1100	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	35.3	817 of 1110	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.1	987 of 1120	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.0	927 of 1117	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	39.8	806 of 1117	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	36.2	882 of 1113	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	28.7	933 of 1082	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.4	737 of 1081	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	56.8	490 of 1083	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.6	490 of 1071	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	34.3	819 of 1062	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	30.8	451 of 579	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	504 of 588	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.9	547 of 579	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	30.6	825 of 1096	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	826 of 1098	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.7	886 of 1100	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	26.5	836 of 1046	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.8	864 of 1036	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	716 of 1093	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.3	897 of 1101	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.9	920 of 1093	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	14.3	232 of 245	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	68.3	305 of 973	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.3	259 of 979	73.5%	★★★★☆
2023	63.5	363 of 984	63.1%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)69th percentile+38 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)25th percentile-6 vs school

African American (2025)22nd percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)20th percentile-11 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)5th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

English Reading66%-4 vs state

VA Studies64%-4 vs state

Mathematics63%-10 vs state

Science61%-8 vs state

3.4

5 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, September 8, 2014

Great school! Great teachers! Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, June 5, 2010

Extremely disappointed with this school. Administration is so hands off with the teachers (in k-2nd) that the teachers I have experience with are either lazy with their dealings with the children-offerering little to no playground (and classroom) supervision-with lots! of mishaps and injuries-no notes home to explain accidents and injuries!!! Instead of gains made at home with spelling and math I am seeing a steady decline in abilities due to major classroom distractions. Little discipline is offered in the classroom-kids run it. I'm sure the scores will tell the rest of the story. So sorry I did not pull my child out in kindergarten. I was expecting great things with the new principal, but have found him to be quite wishy washy and too soft in his dealing with serious issues. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, September 3, 2009

Serious issues with Busing and TAG program. Beginning in 3rd grade TAG Students are separated and given more challenging work environment with little to no diversity. Average classes have large percentage of disadvantaged children and special education children and no interaction with their above average peers. Very disappointed with this school personally. PTA is active. Teachers are good. New Leadership may help Close Quote

Schools Near B.C. Charles Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Mathematics (2025)			SOL Science (2025)	SOL English Reading (2025)			SOL VA Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
B.C. Charles Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	701 Menchville Road	Newport News	23602	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 886-7750	388	19	20.4	99.7%	141 (36.3%)	158 (40.7%)	44 (11.3%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (10.1%)	35.1	770^th of 1110 public elementary schools	30.6%		27.4	872^nd of 1114 public elementary schools	21.7%	102	66.7	65.7	56.8	60.8	62.3	65.7	70.3	64.3	$10,075	$314	$9,761
Willis A. Jenkins Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	80 Menchville Road	Newport News	23602	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 881-5400	507	27	18.7	100.0%	88 (17.4%)	274 (54.0%)	97 (19.1%)	12 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.5%)	12.3	1005^th of 1110 public elementary schools	9.5%		24.4	908^th of 1114 public elementary schools	18.5%	97	59.1	44.2	53.9	57.3	44.3	54.6	48.3	41.6	$9,502	$651	$8,851
T. Ryland Sanford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	480 Colony Road	Newport News	23602	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 886-7778	498	27	18.4	99.0%	118 (23.7%)	209 (42.0%)	94 (18.9%)	18 (3.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (11.2%)	30.8	818^th of 1110 public elementary schools	26.3%		23.5	915^th of 1114 public elementary schools	17.9%	97	65.4	65.9	52.2	53.6	64.2	67.9	60.9	62.4	$9,561	$749	$8,812
Richard T. Yates Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	73 Maxwell Ln	Newport News	23606	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 881-5450	448	20	22.4	97.8%	178 (39.7%)	170 (37.9%)	43 (9.6%)	9 (2.0%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (9.6%)	33.6	790^th of 1110 public elementary schools	28.8%		36.1	772^nd of 1114 public elementary schools	30.7%	18	56.0	70.6	57.8	60.2	59.0	72.1	63.9	70.6	$9,446	$562	$8,884
Hidenwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	501 Blount Point Rd	Newport News	23606	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 591-4766	476	32	14.8	100.0%	107 (22.5%)	257 (54.0%)	54 (11.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	53 (11.1%)	19.7	930^th of 1110 public elementary schools	16.2%		17.9	956^th of 1114 public elementary schools	14.2%	26	64.7	65.2	53.1	52.5	52.9	57.6	53.1	51.5	$10,757	$1,310	$9,446
L.F. Palmer Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Palmer Lane	Newport News	23602	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 881-5000	465	26	17.8	98.3%	31 (6.7%)	190 (40.9%)	202 (43.4%)	5 (1.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.3%)	22.4	897^th of 1110 public elementary schools	19.2%		16	969^th of 1114 public elementary schools	13.0%	72	58.8	58.7	60.2	61.4	53.9	55.2	61.5	54.2	$8,954	$152	$8,802
Stoney Run Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	855 Lucas Creek Rd	Newport News	23608	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 886-7755	453	26	17.4	99.6%	75 (16.6%)	221 (48.8%)	114 (25.2%)	9 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	31 (6.8%)	9.6	1028^th of 1110 public elementary schools	7.4%		6	1069^th of 1114 public elementary schools	4.0%	41	45.2	44.3	48.0	58.9	37.7	48.6	56.2	38.6	$10,639	$1,498	$9,141
Knollwood Meadows Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	826 Moyer Rd	Newport News	23608	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 886-7783	460	23	20.0	99.6%	147 (32.0%)	161 (35.0%)	76 (16.5%)	16 (3.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (12.4%)	35.5	764^th of 1110 public elementary schools	31.2%		52	585^th of 1114 public elementary schools	47.5%	179	52.6	57.1	79.7	79.7	50.0	55.4	82.8	40.0	$10,077	$661	$9,415
Kiln Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 Kiln Creek Pkwy	Newport News	23602	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 886-7961	553	26	21.2	102.7%	90 (16.3%)	308 (55.7%)	89 (16.1%)	13 (2.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (9.0%)	38.3	736^th of 1110 public elementary schools	33.7%		28.7	858^th of 1114 public elementary schools	23.0%	122	67.0	57.5	67.4	70.8	61.7	65.3	71.9	56.9	$10,588	$1,047	$9,541
Riverside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 Country Club Road	Newport News	23606	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 591-4740	506	25	20.2	99.0%	141 (27.9%)	230 (45.5%)	79 (15.6%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (9.1%)	11	1016^th of 1110 public elementary schools	8.5%		14.4	984^th of 1114 public elementary schools	11.7%	32	42.4	46.0	45.9	55.1	43.0	61.5	55.8	40.2	$9,032	$164	$8,868

Frequently Asked Questions about B.C. Charles Elementary

What is the racial makeup of B.C. Charles Elementary?

Students at B.C. Charles Elementary are 41% African American, 36% White, 11% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of B.C. Charles Elementary attend?

Students who attend B.C. Charles Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle
High : Menchville High

Is B.C. Charles Elementary a good school?

B.C. Charles Elementary ranks 770^th of 1110 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend B.C. Charles Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 388 students attended B.C. Charles Elementary.

What district is B.C. Charles Elementary in?

Newport News City Public Schools

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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.