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Hardy Elementary

Q: Is Hardy Elementary a good school?

Hardy Elementary ranks 424 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

424^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 62% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Hardy Elementary is a PK–4 school in Smithfield, Virginia, serving 649 students in the Isle of Wight County Public Schools, a district ranked 14th out of 131 in Virginia with a 5-star rating. Hardy itself ranks 424th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (62nd percentile, 3 stars) — solidly mid-upper tier. In 2025–26, Hardy exceeded state proficiency averages in every tested subject, including 79.8% in 3rd grade math and 81.3% in 4th grade reading. However, it trails its own district in both 3rd and 4th grade math by roughly 1.5 to 3 percentage points, meaning it is above the state but not consistently the strongest school in its high-performing district.

Compared with nearby schools, Hardy holds up well despite significant demographic challenges. Same-district neighbor Carrollton Elementary posts very similar test scores, but Hardy serves nearly twice the share of economically disadvantaged students (70.1% vs. 37.3% free/reduced lunch) and achieves comparable or better reading scores. Across the border in Newport News City Public Schools, a much lower-rated district, Hardy outpaces nearly every nearby school — for example, 79.8% vs. 44.4% at Riverside Elementary and 51.9% at Stoney Run Elementary in 3rd grade math. The standout exception is Hilton Elementary, which scores well above Hardy (84.3% math, 87.1% reading) despite a 99.2% poverty rate — proof that Hardy's ceiling may be higher than its current results.

Hardy's most notable success story is attendance: chronic absenteeism fell from 28.4% in 2021–22 to 11.6% in 2024–25, now below both district (12.7%) and state (14.8%) averages. The school also ranks exceptionally well for military-connected students, placing 23rd out of 206 schools statewide. But equity gaps remain the main concern: African American students rank in the 29th percentile, students with disabilities in the 18th percentile, and low-income students at the 47th percentile. These gaps, alongside a sharp rise in economic disadvantage from 49.1% to 70.1% since 2022–23, are the most urgent areas for attention — even as the school's long-term ranking has improved from the 31st to the 62nd percentile.

649

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,262

Per pupil spending ?

70.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9389 Old Stage Hwy
Smithfield, VA 23430

(757) 357-3204

District: Isle of Wight County Public Schools

Students who attend Hardy Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Smithfield Middle
	Westside Elementary
High:	Smithfield High

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.8%

African American:

28.2%

Two or more races:

12.3%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Hardy Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 67th percentile in 2012 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (77% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Above the Virginia median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2012

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school77%

District avg77%

Virginia avg72%

424^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 38%▲ up 31 pts since 2019

From bottom 31% (2019) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Isle of Wight County Public Schools

14^th of 131Isle of Wight County 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	64.3	424 of 1111	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.4	528 of 1110	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.1	462 of 1114	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.6	359 of 1114	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.4	416 of 1109	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.1	370 of 1103	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.4	759 of 1105	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	54.5	532 of 1110	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	65.3	373 of 1120	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.7	364 of 1117	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	54.6	548 of 1117	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	45.8	721 of 1113	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.9	686 of 1082	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	70.6	266 of 1081	75.4%	★★★★☆
2007	71.0	251 of 1083	76.8%	★★★★☆
2006	26.8	936 of 1071	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	57.2	476 of 1062	55.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	36.5	419 of 591	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.8	370 of 579	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.0	372 of 588	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.0	326 of 579	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	24.6	343 of 420	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	6.0	341 of 355	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	67.9	359 of 1100	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.5	532 of 1096	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.0	311 of 1098	71.7%	★★★★☆
2023	73.3	276 of 1100	74.9%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	91.7	22 of 564	96.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	49.4	555 of 1040	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.5	607 of 1046	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.7	573 of 1036	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	58.8	475 of 1099	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.7	499 of 1093	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.2	609 of 1101	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	59.4	468 of 1093	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	78.5	23 of 206	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	55.7	94 of 192	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	79.8	16 of 182	91.2%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	63.5	123 of 306	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.0	158 of 271	41.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	339 of 974	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.7	488 of 973	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.5	412 of 979	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.6	315 of 984	68.0%	★★★☆☆

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 (2023)96th percentile+28 vs school

Military Connected (2026)89th percentile+27 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)65th percentile+3 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)60th percentile~ school

Male (2026)57th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile-15 vs school

African American (2026)29th percentile-33 vs school

Disabled (2026)18th percentile-44 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics79%+5 vs state

English Reading77%+6 vs state

VA Studies75%+5 vs state

1.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 25, 2024

This school is horrible and the principal along with some staff need to be replaced. They allow students and staff to bully/harm special needs children, they forget to put children on their buses to go home, and the principal refuses to communicate with the parents unless she has to. Truly disgusting people running and working in this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Hardy Elementary

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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 Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (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 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
Hardy Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	9389 Old Stage Hwy	Smithfield	23430	Isle of Wight County	Isle of Wight County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 357-3204	649	50	12.9	70.1%	336 (51.8%)	183 (28.2%)	40 (6.2%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (12.3%)	64.3	424^th of 1111 public elementary schools	61.8%		56.4	528^th of 1110 public elementary schools	52.4%	104	79.8	77.6			71.2	81.3		75.4	$10,262	$979	$9,282
Carrollton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-3	14440 New Towne Haven Ln	Carrollton	23314	Isle of Wight County	Isle of Wight County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 357-8850	569	43	13.2	37.3%	295 (51.8%)	140 (24.6%)	55 (9.7%)	10 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	67 (11.8%)								(n/a)	78.8				69.9				$9,916	$308	$9,609
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%)	23.8	909^th of 1111 public elementary schools	18.2%		19.7	930^th of 1110 public elementary schools	16.2%	21	70.7	58.0	62.1	61.5	51.2	60.2	63.6	51.1	$10,757	$1,310	$9,446
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%)	43.7	693^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	37.6%		35.1	770^th of 1110 public elementary schools	30.6%	77	75.7	74.3	62.5	62.5	72.5	71.6	65.8	63.5	$10,075	$314	$9,761
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%)	9.5	1032^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	7.1%		11	1016^th of 1110 public elementary schools	8.5%	16	44.4	49.3	47.0	45.8	47.2	58.2	58.0	48.5	$9,032	$164	$8,868
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%)	33.7	806^th of 1111 public elementary schools	27.5%		30.8	818^th of 1110 public elementary schools	26.3%	12	55.8	67.4	60.3	73.1	54.7	74.4	71.8	54.8	$9,561	$749	$8,812
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%)	30.4	838^th of 1111 public elementary schools	24.6%		35.5	764^th of 1110 public elementary schools	31.2%	74	69.7	56.7	65.5	63.6	60.6	61.2	63.6	63.6	$10,077	$661	$9,415
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%)	35	788^th of 1111 public elementary schools	29.1%		33.6	790^th of 1110 public elementary schools	28.8%	2	71.3	57.8	70.4	67.6	70.0	61.1	68.1	54.4	$9,446	$562	$8,884
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%)	25	893^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	19.6%		12.3	1005^th of 1110 public elementary schools	9.5%	112	67.6	55.3	53.7	68.7	59.2	55.3	65.7	56.5	$9,502	$651	$8,851
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%)	5.2	1067^th of 1111 public elementary schools	4.0%		9.6	1028^th of 1110 public elementary schools	7.4%	39	51.9	41.0	48.7	42.3	43.2	45.9	46.2	40.7	$10,639	$1,498	$9,141

Frequently Asked Questions about Hardy Elementary

Is Hardy Elementary a good school?

Hardy Elementary ranks 424^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Hardy Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hardy Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Smithfield Middle
Middle : Westside Elementary
High : Smithfield High

How many students attend Hardy Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 649 students attended Hardy Elementary.

What district is Hardy Elementary in?

Isle of Wight County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Hardy Elementary?

Students at Hardy Elementary are 52% White, 28% African American, 12% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

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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.