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Oscar Smith Middle

Public Grades 6-8

358^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 14% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Oscar Smith Middle is a large middle school in Chesapeake, VA, serving approximately 967 students in grades 6–8 as part of Chesapeake City Public Schools. While the district itself is strong—ranked 34th out of 131 Virginia districts—Oscar Smith has consistently ranked near the bottom of the state's middle schools, currently sitting at 358th out of 416 (14th percentile, 1 star). The school serves a high-need population, with 71.9% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch and a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.2%, nearly double the district's 11.1%. On a positive note, staffing is favorable, with a student-teacher ratio of 10.2, among the lowest in the area.

Academically, Oscar Smith lags far behind its Chesapeake peers in most subjects. It is the lowest-ranked among the five same-district middle schools, well behind Greenbrier Middle (92nd) and Deep Creek Middle (206th). Reading proficiency trails the district by roughly 18–20 points in every grade, and 8th grade science (41.3%) is the lowest among nearby schools, compared with the district's 71.9%. Civics is an even bigger concern: only 35.9% of 6th graders passed, versus 69.4% districtwide. There is one notable bright spot: Algebra I proficiency is outstanding at 100% in 7th grade and 98.5% in 8th grade, showing the school excels with advanced students. However, standard grade-level math remains weak (47.7%–55.8% proficient).

What makes the results particularly striking is that peer schools with similar poverty rates—like Deep Creek Middle and Greenbrier Middle—outperform Oscar Smith by wide margins, so demographics alone don't explain the gap. Chronic absenteeism appears to be the most actionable red flag, affecting roughly 1 in 5 students. The school has not shown sustained improvement, with percentile ranks ranging between the 6th and 29th percentiles over the past decade. Per-pupil spending ($11,774) is mid-range and staffing is strong, yet those resources haven't translated into schoolwide gains. There are pockets of success worth building on, particularly in advanced math, but the overall pattern points to persistent, systemic challenges rather than isolated subject-area issues.

967

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,774

Per pupil spending ?

71.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2500 Rodgers St
Chesapeake, VA 23324

(757) 494-7590

District: Chesapeake City Public Schools

Students who attend Oscar Smith Middle usually attend:

High:

Oscar F. Smith High

Feeder schools for Oscar Smith Middle:

Elementary:	George W. Carver Intermediate
	Portlock Primary
	Rena B. Wright Primary
	Thurgood Marshall Elementary
	More...
	Truitt Intermediate

Racial breakdown:

African American:

64.2%

Hispanic:

16.9%

White:

11.7%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Oscar Smith Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 17th percentile in 2016 → 14th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (53% vs 69% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!Civics and Economics scores 33 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg73%

Virginia avg69%

358^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 17% (2016) to bottom 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 10Middle Schools in the Chesapeake City Public Schools

34^th of 131Chesapeake 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
2026	23.5	358 of 416	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.3	314 of 419	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.1	294 of 417	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.6	341 of 422	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.7	341 of 415	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	372 of 419	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.7	397 of 424	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.3	378 of 413	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	19.4	373 of 415	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	26.6	338 of 409	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	26.6	337 of 412	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	20.5	353 of 416	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	31.6	308 of 416	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	39.3	276 of 413	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	38.7	291 of 413	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	40.4	273 of 408	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	30.0	314 of 390	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.9	317 of 391	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	41.5	263 of 387	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	27.0	334 of 383	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	48.5	220 of 340	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	34.9	219 of 297	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	46.4	179 of 297	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	163 of 299	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.5	199 of 298	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	201 of 292	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.0	163 of 281	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.6	148 of 278	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	26.7	111 of 134	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	59.6	36 of 135	73.3%	★★★★☆
2024	34.5	71 of 122	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	357 of 409	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.4	315 of 403	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.6	298 of 407	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.3	331 of 411	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	40.0	180 of 283	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.2	186 of 279	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.7	172 of 272	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.7	154 of 275	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	308 of 401	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	43.9	241 of 403	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.6	220 of 402	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	25.4	340 of 410	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.6	291 of 404	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.1	265 of 407	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.0	321 of 409	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	117 of 125	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	34.4	103 of 130	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.7	80 of 123	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	90 of 114	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	21.9	214 of 249	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.1	185 of 244	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.9	108 of 237	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	25.5	187 of 231	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	25.8	346 of 400	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	49.0	222 of 400	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.3	261 of 396	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.2	293 of 402	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile+22 vs school

Disabled (2026)31st percentile+17 vs school

African American (2026)26th percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)23rd percentile+9 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)17th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)17th percentile+3 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)14th percentile~ school

White (2026)14th percentile~ school

Female (2026)13th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2026)6th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I99%+4 vs state

English Reading59%-14 vs state

Mathematics53%~ state avg

Science41%-23 vs state

Civics and Economics36%-33 vs state

3.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Wednesday, July 24, 2019

This school needs to be completely changed. The parents need to be brought on board because they are a big part of the problem! Close Quote

by a citizen
Wednesday, March 1, 2017

I feel sadly about how this school is projected over the Internet. What's the percentage on how many of these students go to college. How is there self esteem after seeing how poorly their school rank? Close Quote

Schools Near Oscar Smith Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Geometry (2026)		SOL Algebra I (2026)			SOL Mathematics (2026)						SOL Science (2026)		SOL Earth Science (2026)		SOL English Reading (2026)						SOL Geography (2026)	SOL Civics and Economics (2026)			SOL VA Studies (2026)		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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Geometry 6th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 6th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th 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 Science 5th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 7th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th 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 Geography 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 6th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	SOL VA Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Oscar Smith Middle	Public	6-8	2500 Rodgers St	Chesapeake	23324	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 494-7590	967	94	10.2	71.9%	113 (11.7%)	621 (64.2%)	163 (16.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (7.0%)	23.5	358^th of 416 public middle schools	13.9%		32.3	314^th of 419 public middle schools	25.1%	44		≥ 50%		100.0	98.5				54.5	47.7	55.8		41.3						56.1	60.2	61.0		35.9					$11,774	$1,477	$10,297
Indian River Middle	Public	6-8	2300 Old Greenbrier Rd	Chesapeake	23325	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 578-7030	743	70	10.5	72.1%	177 (23.8%)	388 (52.2%)	87 (11.7%)	9 (1.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	79 (10.6%)	28	333^rd of 416 public middle schools	20.0%		26.8	341^st of 419 public middle schools	18.6%	8		100.0		90.9	96.6				37.2	37.7	40.6		53.4		≥ 50%				68.6	63.4	69.5		47.1					$11,059	$445	$10,615
Cradock Middle	Public	7-8	21 Alden Ave	Portsmouth	23702	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 393-8788	516	38	13.5	103.5%	36 (7.0%)	395 (76.6%)	36 (7.0%)	4 (0.8%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (7.9%)	12.1	390^th of 416 public middle schools	6.3%		11.5	389^th of 419 public middle schools	7.2%	1		87.5		100.0	98.5					25.0	31.4		45.1							46.9	48.7				48.2			$13,319	$3,103	$10,216
Crestwood Middle	Public	6-8	1420 Great Bridge Blvd	Chesapeake	23320	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 494-7560	557	53	10.5	73.1%	112 (20.1%)	260 (46.7%)	114 (20.5%)	14 (2.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (9.5%)	45.9	255^th of 416 public middle schools	38.7%		31	319^th of 419 public middle schools	23.9%	64		100.0		520.0	97.6				59.5	57.4	47.9		58.3						73.8	66.7	72.7		65.0					$11,726	$809	$10,916
Ruffner School	Public	3-8	610 May Ave.	Norfolk	23504	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 628-2466	576	47	12.2	93.4%	9 (1.6%)	531 (92.2%)	17 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	14 (2.4%)	3	410^th of 416 public middle schools	1.4%		2.6	413^th of 419 public middle schools	1.4%	3		397.0		≥ 50%	100.0	17.1	39.1	4.1	19.5	11.9	16.6	4.1	17.0		≥ 50%	26.5	56.5	14.3	33.3	36.9	26.3	50.0		65.5	16.7	41.3	14.3	$12,376	$1,572	$10,804
Greenbrier Middle	Public	6-8	1016 Greenbrier Pkwy	Chesapeake	23320	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 548-5309	788	67	11.8	73.9%	234 (29.7%)	293 (37.2%)	105 (13.3%)	48 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	106 (13.5%)	72.9	92^nd of 416 public middle schools	77.9%		74	94^th of 419 public middle schools	77.6%	2		100.0		100.0	100.0				70.6	73.4	64.9		73.9						82.1	79.4	78.7		77.6					$17,275	$1,225	$16,050
Brandon Middle	Public	6-8	1700 Pope St	Virginia Beach	23464	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-4450	1,053	69	15.3	67.4%	368 (34.9%)	329 (31.2%)	132 (12.5%)	77 (7.3%)	2 (0.2%)	9 (0.9%)	136 (12.9%)	53	217^th of 416 public middle schools	47.8%		55.9	197^th of 419 public middle schools	53.0%	20		95.9		100.0	93.3				58.9	17.3	50.3		51.1		96.7				77.0	77.8	78.9				76.8			$14,006	$890	$13,115
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	549	46	11.9	98.9%	113 (20.6%)	358 (65.2%)	39 (7.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (6.2%)	13	385^th of 416 public middle schools	7.5%		20.6	367^th of 419 public middle schools	12.4%	18		80.8		100.0	91.1					29.5	28.1		41.4							54.2	53.7				56.6			$12,280	$2,357	$9,923
Blair Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	730 Spotswood Ave	Norfolk	23517	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 628-2400	1,141	77	14.8	93.3%	240 (21.0%)	676 (59.2%)	117 (10.3%)	22 (1.9%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	78 (6.8%)	24	354^th of 416 public middle schools	14.9%		20.2	368^th of 419 public middle schools	12.2%	14	≥ 50%	93.5	≥ 50%	99.2	95.7				36.0	19.9	9.6		18.3	95.1	87.3				62.3	61.6	54.8	83.1		95.2	32.1			$8,978	$318	$8,660
Deep Creek Middle	Public	6-8	1955 Deal Dr	Chesapeake	23323	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 558-5321	764	66	11.6	72.8%	272 (35.6%)	260 (34.0%)	150 (19.6%)	8 (1.0%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (8.9%)	54.9	206^th of 416 public middle schools	50.5%		51.1	216^th of 419 public middle schools	48.4%	10		100.0		95.7	93.1				55.9	65.4	47.0		69.8						77.8	76.9	76.1		61.9					$10,436	$374	$10,062

Frequently Asked Questions about Oscar Smith Middle

How many students attend Oscar Smith Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 967 students attended Oscar Smith Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Oscar Smith Middle?

Students at Oscar Smith Middle are 64% African American, 17% Hispanic, 12% White, 7% Two or more races.

Is Oscar Smith Middle a good school?

Oscar Smith Middle ranks in the bottom 13.9% of Virginia middle schools.

What district is Oscar Smith Middle in?

Chesapeake City Public Schools

What high school do graduates of Oscar Smith Middle attend?

Students who attend Oscar Smith Middle usually go on to attend Oscar F. Smith High

Rate Oscar Smith Middle!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

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.