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Benjamin Syms Middle

Q: Is Benjamin Syms Middle a good school?

Benjamin Syms Middle ranks 226 th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Benjamin Syms Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 850 students attended Benjamin Syms Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Benjamin Syms Middle?

Students at Benjamin Syms Middle are 50% African American, 29% White, 11% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

Q: What high school do graduates of Benjamin Syms Middle attend?

Students who attend Benjamin Syms Middle usually go on to attend Kecoughtan High

Public Grades 6-8

226^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 46% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Benjamin Syms Middle is the largest middle school in Hampton, VA, serving 850 students in grades 6–8 as part of Hampton City Public Schools. The school currently ranks 226th of 416 Virginia middle schools (46th percentile, 2 stars) — its best state ranking in roughly a decade and a meaningful improvement from the 2018–2019 school year, when it ranked 360th. The school serves a high-poverty population: 72.35% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and per-pupil spending is $9,229.

The school's most promising signal is a sharp attendance turnaround. Chronic absenteeism fell from 26.5% in 2021–2022 to just 7.0% in 2024–2025, well below the Virginia state average of 14.8%. Students placed in advanced coursework perform exceptionally well: Algebra I proficiency is 100%, and Earth Science proficiency is 100%. The school also shows genuine strengths for several student subgroups. Hispanic students rank in the 80th percentile statewide, low-income students rank in the 64th percentile, and African American students improved from the 30th to the 57th percentile in a single year.

Still, the school sits in the middle of the pack locally. Francis W. Jones Magnet Middle, just 1.36 miles away, ranks 45th statewide and posts reading scores of 84–91%, despite a poverty rate above 94%. Thomas Eaton Middle also outperforms Syms in nearly every subject, and B.T. Washington Middle outpaces Syms in 7th-grade math, science, and civics. Grade-level math remains a concern — only 29.4% of 7th graders are proficient — and reading scores trail district and state averages in all three grades. These patterns point to real opportunities to improve grade-level instruction, even as the school's attendance momentum and advanced-course results suggest a promising path forward.

850

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,423

Per pupil spending ?

72.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

170 Fox Hill Rd
Hampton, VA 23669

(757) 850-5050

District: Hampton City Public Schools

Students who attend Benjamin Syms Middle usually attend:

High:

Kecoughtan High

Feeder schools for Benjamin Syms Middle:

Elementary:	Albert W. Patrick III Elementary
	Francis Asbury Elementary
	Jane H. Bryan Elementary
	Mary T. Christian Elementary
	More...
	Phillips Elementary
	Samuel P. Langley Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.9%

White:

28.8%

Two or more races:

11.1%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Benjamin Syms Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2016 → 46th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 27 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school70%

District avg75%

Virginia avg70%

226^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 19% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5Middle Schools in the Hampton City Public Schools

50^th of 131Hampton 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	51.6	226 of 416	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.0	273 of 419	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.0	255 of 417	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.9	247 of 422	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.1	256 of 415	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.6	243 of 419	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.5	360 of 424	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.1	355 of 413	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.3	324 of 415	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.6	332 of 409	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.3	332 of 412	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.2	291 of 416	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	30.9	313 of 416	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	29.7	338 of 413	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	30.4	337 of 413	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	39.5	280 of 408	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	39.8	258 of 390	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	51.8	186 of 391	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.5	107 of 387	72.4%	★★★★☆
2006	61.8	106 of 383	72.3%	★★★★☆
2005	59.7	154 of 340	54.7%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	55.1	129 of 297	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	35.9	209 of 297	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.2	167 of 299	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.6	167 of 298	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	159 of 292	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.9	170 of 281	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.2	135 of 278	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	52.9	212 of 409	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.8	267 of 403	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.0	221 of 407	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	246 of 411	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.2	56 of 283	80.2%	★★★★☆
2025	76.2	49 of 279	82.4%	★★★★☆
2024	57.3	108 of 272	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.4	104 of 275	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	29.9	3 of 3	0.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	146 of 401	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.3	236 of 403	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.2	192 of 402	52.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	230 of 410	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.7	272 of 404	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.9	267 of 407	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.3	237 of 409	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	44.0	88 of 125	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.7	74 of 130	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.9	33 of 123	73.2%	★★★★☆
2023	64.4	33 of 114	71.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	54.3	118 of 249	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	34.3	175 of 244	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	53.4	104 of 237	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.6	105 of 231	54.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	52.5	189 of 400	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.7	105 of 400	73.8%	★★★★☆
2024	55.0	182 of 396	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.0	132 of 402	67.2%	★★★☆☆

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)80th percentile+35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)64th percentile+18 vs school

African American (2026)57th percentile+11 vs school

White (2026)53rd percentile+7 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)53rd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)48th percentile~ school

Disabled (2026)46th percentile~ school

Male (2026)44th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2026)30th percentile-16 vs school

Homeless (2025)<1st percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I100%+5 vs state

Earth Science100%+9 vs state

Geometry96%~ state avg

Civics and Economics75%~ state avg

English Reading72%~ state avg

Science64%~ state avg

Mathematics54%~ state avg

3.3

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, September 12, 2016

The administration and staff are committed to the academic, emotional, and social well-being of the students. Yes it is a tough job , but I have witnessed that the care and concern for our children is genuine. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, July 30, 2014

I do not recommend Syms Middle School for any child. It is over crowded and bullying problems are out of control (not just with children). Administration talks down to parents and they are not helpful at all. It's all together an unpleasant experience. Close Quote

Schools Near Benjamin Syms 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 Algebra II (2026)	SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL Geography (2026)	SOL Civics and Economics (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 7th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 6th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Geography 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Benjamin Syms Middle	Public	6-8	170 Fox Hill Rd	Hampton	23669	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 850-5050	850	57	15.0	72.4%	245 (28.8%)	424 (49.9%)	73 (8.6%)	10 (1.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (11.1%)	51.6	226^th of 416 public middle schools	45.7%		41	273^rd of 419 public middle schools	34.8%	47	100.0	94.9	100.0	100.0	100.0	519.0	70.6	29.4	53.0	63.6	100.0	70.9	71.8	72.7			75.3	$10,423	$840	$9,583
Francis W. Jones Magnet Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	1819 Nickerson Blvd	Hampton	23663	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 850-7900	613	44	13.8	94.3%	232 (37.8%)	258 (42.1%)	48 (7.8%)	9 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	63 (10.3%)	80.3	45^th of 416 public middle schools	89.2%		82.7	34^th of 419 public middle schools	91.9%	11		94.9		98.6	99.1		73.3			86.6		84.4	86.8	91.1			96.0	$13,010	$347	$12,663
Thomas Eaton Middle	Public	6-8	2108 Cunningham Dr	Hampton	23666	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 825-4540	581	46	12.5	94.3%	111 (19.1%)	381 (65.6%)	34 (5.9%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.6%)	73.1	91^st of 416 public middle schools	78.1%		51	217^th of 419 public middle schools	48.2%	126		100.0		100.0	100.0		79.0	312.0	53.7	81.0		80.9	78.6	77.9			85.9	$13,752	$490	$13,263
C. Alton Lindsay Middle	Public	6-8	1636 Briarfield Rd	Hampton	23661	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 825-4560	612	46	13.4	80.1%	62 (10.1%)	441 (72.1%)	47 (7.7%)	14 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	45 (7.4%)	51.4	229^th of 416 public middle schools	45.0%		35.9	299^th of 419 public middle schools	28.6%	70	490.0	100.0	547.0	100.0	97.6	480.0	70.8	54.1	57.4	69.2	100.0	67.0	66.3	67.8			77.9	$12,821	$899	$11,922
Cesar Tarrant Middle	Public	6-8	1435 Todds Ln	Hampton	23666	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 825-4520	737	44	16.6	82.8%	110 (14.9%)	488 (66.2%)	48 (6.5%)	14 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.5%)	70 (9.5%)	45.5	260^th of 416 public middle schools	37.5%		38.9	286^th of 419 public middle schools	31.7%	26	≥ 50%	90.6	519.0	100.0	100.0	516.0	57.1	32.1	57.1	69.7	100.0	66.2	64.5	68.8	≥ 50%		79.3	$11,151	$918	$10,234
Poquoson Middle	Public	6-8	985 Poquoson Ave	Poquoson	23662	Poquoson city	Poquoson City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 868-6031	491	36	13.6	20.2%	403 (82.1%)	7 (1.4%)	34 (6.9%)	8 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.7%)	83.3	26^th of 416 public middle schools	93.8%		83	33^rd of 419 public middle schools	92.1%	7		97.6		100.0	100.0		72.4	59.4	77.4	91.0		81.9	87.1	91.0		< 50%	92.7	$9,283	$182	$9,101
B.T. Washington Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	3700 Chestnut Ave	Newport News	23607	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 928-6860	413	27	15.7	—	108 (26.2%)	215 (52.1%)	30 (7.3%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (12.3%)	75.7	69^th of 416 public middle schools	83.4%		65.5	141^st of 419 public middle schools	66.3%	72		96.5		100.0	100.0		87.3	48.7	61.1	76.5		89.3	77.5	84.6			85.3	$11,375	$00	$11,375
Huntington Middle	Public	6-7	5800 Marshall Ave	Newport News	23605	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 928-6846	292	38	7.7	—	9 (3.1%)	238 (81.5%)	23 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	2.7	411^th of 416 public middle schools	1.2%		2.8	412^th of 419 public middle schools	1.7%	1							31.8	18.1				40.0	47.2					$10,799	$171	$10,628
Crittenden Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	6158 Jefferson Ave	Newport News	23605	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 591-4900	781	69	12.3	—	60 (7.7%)	552 (70.7%)	100 (12.8%)	13 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	51 (6.5%)	11.1	393^rd of 416 public middle schools	5.5%		13.3	386^th of 419 public middle schools	7.9%	7		88.6		97.7	95.7		56.2	12.9	17.7	29.9	97.6	52.8	54.1	45.8			43.2	$12,639	$456	$12,183
Homer L. Hines Middle	Public	6-8	561 McLawhorne Dr	Newport News	23601	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 591-4878	846	54	15.6	97.3%	133 (15.7%)	454 (53.7%)	151 (17.8%)	15 (1.8%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	86 (10.2%)	19.5	367^th of 416 public middle schools	11.8%		27.3	337^th of 419 public middle schools	19.6%	30		98.2		100.0	71.0		56.2	23.4	19.2	55.9		59.9	57.0	53.9			57.7	$10,240	$376	$9,864

Frequently Asked Questions about Benjamin Syms Middle

How many students attend Benjamin Syms Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 850 students attended Benjamin Syms Middle.

Is Benjamin Syms Middle a good school?

Benjamin Syms Middle ranks 226^th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Benjamin Syms Middle?

Students at Benjamin Syms Middle are 50% African American, 29% White, 11% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is Benjamin Syms Middle in?

Hampton City Public Schools

What high school do graduates of Benjamin Syms Middle attend?

Students who attend Benjamin Syms Middle usually go on to attend Kecoughtan High

Rate Benjamin Syms Middle!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 12, 2026

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 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.