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Heritage High

Q: Is Heritage High a good school?

Heritage High ranks in the bottom 3.9% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Heritage High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,106 students attended Heritage High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Heritage High?

Students at Heritage High are 75% African American, 14% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 5% White.

Q: What schools feed into Heritage High?

Heritage High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Carver Elementary Elementary : Discovery Stem Academy Elementary : Newsome Park Elementary Middle : Crittenden Middle Prekindergarten : John Marshall Early Childhood Center

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

318^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 4% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Heritage High is a comprehensive public high school in Newport News, VA, serving 1,106 students in grades 9–12 as part of Newport News City Public Schools. With 95% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school serves a very high-poverty community. Heritage currently ranks 318th out of 331 Virginia high schools (4th percentile, 0 stars), placing it near the very bottom of the state. The school has been in the bottom 10–20% of Virginia for a decade, and was even worse in 2024–25, ranking 324th out of 328.

Academically, Heritage lags district and state averages in most subjects on 2025–26 Virginia SOL tests. Most striking is 9th-grade Algebra I: only 40.85% of Heritage students are proficient, versus 70.4% district-wide and 80.21% statewide—a nearly 40-point gap. Biology and reading proficiency are also below state averages in several grades, though 12th-grade Biology and 11th-grade Algebra II are bright spots. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern: 28.4% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, the highest rate among nearby schools and nearly double the state average of 14.8%. On the positive side, the 2024–25 graduation rate was 97.7%, above both district and state, with a dropout rate of just 0.4%.

Heritage also stands out for spending more per student ($12,239) than every nearby school, yet producing some of the weakest outcomes. Nearby Achievable Dream Middle/High, just 0.2 miles away and serving a similar high-poverty population, ranks 107th in the state, posts far stronger test scores, and has a 100% graduation rate. Other nearby schools like Phoebus High and Bethel High also rank in the top third of Virginia while serving similar demographics. The most actionable opportunity is attendance: chronic absenteeism has dropped from 52.7% (2021–22) to 28.4% (2024–25), and more progress could boost outcomes. For parents, the graduation rate is encouraging, but the gap between graduation and proficiency suggests students may earn diplomas without reaching grade-level academic standards.

1,106

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,626

Per pupil spending ?

95.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

5800 Marshall Ave
Newport News, VA 23605

(757) 928-6100

District: Newport News City Public Schools

Feeder schools for Heritage High:

Elementary:	Carver Elementary
	Discovery Stem Academy
	Newsome Park Elementary
Middle:	Crittenden Middle
Prekindergarten:	John Marshall Early Childhood Center

Racial breakdown:

African American:

74.8%

Hispanic:

14.5%

Two or more races:

5.2%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Heritage High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 16th percentile in 2016 → 4th in 2026

Strengths

✓99% graduate in 4 years — above the Virginia average (94%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (62% vs 78% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 13% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg74%

Virginia avg78%

318^th of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 16% (2016) to bottom 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6High Schools in the Newport News City Public Schools

105^th of 131Newport 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
2026	16.0	318 of 331	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.4	324 of 328	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.9	322 of 329	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.6	298 of 326	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.8	312 of 325	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.6	308 of 327	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.2	304 of 327	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	297 of 326	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	28.8	269 of 324	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	28.7	270 of 321	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	17.8	306 of 322	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	9.6	316 of 322	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	10.9	313 of 321	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	12.4	309 of 321	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	19.1	302 of 320	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	17.8	303 of 317	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	21.3	297 of 313	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	32.1	259 of 316	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	33.8	251 of 313	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	42.7	205 of 314	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	22.8	287 of 308	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	20.6	224 of 242	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.0	241 of 245	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.3	227 of 249	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	207 of 240	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	24.1	216 of 252	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	231 of 253	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.3	223 of 249	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	22.5	123 of 135	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	16.6	308 of 322	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.9	317 of 321	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.1	318 of 322	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.5	301 of 320	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	15.7	236 of 242	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	31.7	192 of 236	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.9	97 of 233	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.6	87 of 232	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	16.8	314 of 321	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.8	313 of 324	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.3	311 of 320	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.8	319 of 325	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.9	315 of 322	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	296 of 322	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	293 of 321	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	34.5	150 of 196	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.6	160 of 198	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	64.5	66 of 193	65.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	43.6	223 of 314	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	74.2	31 of 315	90.2%	★★★★★

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)

White (2024)29th percentile+27 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)23rd percentile+20 vs school

Disabled (2026)14th percentile+10 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)9th percentile+5 vs school

African American (2026)7th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)4th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)2nd percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geography85%+14 vs state

Algebra II74%-13 vs state

English Reading74%-12 vs state

Biology60%-17 vs state

VA and US History54%+16 vs state

Algebra I47%-35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Heritage High

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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 Writing (2026)				SOL Geometry (2026)					SOL Algebra I (2026)						SOL Algebra II (2026)					SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Chemistry (2026)		SOL Biology (2026)				SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)				SOL English Reading (2026)							SOL Geography (2026)				SOL VA and US History (2026)				SOL World History I (2026)				SOL World History II (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 Writing 9th Grade	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 12th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Algebra II 12th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Chemistry 10th Grade	SOL Chemistry 11th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th Grade	SOL Geography 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 9th Grade	SOL VA and US History 10th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 9th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL World History II 11th Grade	SOL World History II 12th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Heritage High	Public, Magnet	9-12	5800 Marshall Ave	Newport News	23605	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 928-6100	1,106	79	14.0	95.0%	56 (5.1%)	827 (74.8%)	160 (14.5%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (5.2%)	16	318^th of 331 public high schools	3.9%		11.4	324^th of 328 public high schools	1.2%	6			< 50%			406.0	390.0			≥ 50%		40.9	66.7	≥ 50%	75.0		88.5	55.0	50.0	< 50%					< 50%	73.5	46.0	53.5	77.4		< 50%	401.0	390.0	≥ 50%				< 50%	57.1	76.9	67.9	84.6	403.0	416.0	< 50%		< 50%	360.0	53.6	374.0		≥ 50%	≥ 50%		404.0				$12,626	$355	$12,271
Achievable Dream Middle/High	Public, Magnet	6-12	5720 Marshall Ave.	Newport News	23605	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 283-7820	498	50	9.9	—	11 (2.2%)	417 (83.7%)	40 (8.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (5.6%)	66.9	107^th of 331 public high schools	67.7%		47.7	212^th of 328 public high schools	35.4%	105					81.8	75.0	< 50%		< 50%	100.0	100.0	66.7			≥ 50%		100.0	406.0			67.1	18.5	45.7			100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	62.4					61.2	72.1	60.0		≥ 50%	94.2	≥ 50%	93.3	≥ 50%	≥ 50%														60.0	$13,102	$00	$13,102
Hampton High	Public	9-12	1491 W Queen St	Hampton	23669	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 825-4430	1,301	91	14.2	92.2%	112 (8.6%)	982 (75.5%)	91 (7.0%)	20 (1.5%)	9 (0.7%)	5 (0.4%)	82 (6.3%)	49.1	203^rd of 331 public high schools	38.7%		64.7	117^th of 328 public high schools	64.3%	86	< 50%	65.3	58.8	402.0		91.8	383.0					94.3	87.1	90.0	69.2		100.0	≥ 50%	408.0	401.0					≥ 50%	82.5	57.1	72.9	92.3			≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%				< 50%	86.3	81.2	85.7	83.8	49.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	60.6	50.0	58.3	55.3	396.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	354.0	40.9	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		$13,198	$504	$12,694
Bethel High	Public	9-12	1067 Big Bethel Rd	Hampton	23666	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 825-4400	1,769	119	14.8	92.7%	268 (15.1%)	1,177 (66.5%)	139 (7.9%)	29 (1.6%)	6 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	147 (8.3%)	65.7	111^th of 331 public high schools	66.5%		67.3	106^th of 328 public high schools	67.7%	5	≥ 50%	83.9	386.0	≥ 50%		90.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%				95.4	90.0	92.3	424.0		100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%							90.0	74.4	88.7	93.6				≥ 50%					385.0	56.3	87.6	100.0	67.6	40.9	≥ 50%		< 50%	387.0	42.9	90.0	81.6	402.0	91.3	100.0				≥ 50%		$11,896	$467	$11,428
Warwick High	Public	9-12	51 Copeland Lane	Newport News	23601	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 591-4700	1,622	110	14.7	93.4%	319 (19.7%)	892 (55.0%)	267 (16.5%)	22 (1.4%)	5 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	114 (7.0%)	26.1	300^th of 331 public high schools	9.4%		26.8	297^th of 328 public high schools	9.5%	3				≥ 50%		78.1	381.0	< 50%				69.8	73.7	92.9	410.0	≥ 50%	91.8	66.7	399.0							72.9	39.8	55.3	79.0		≥ 50%	53.3	56.3	394.0					60.0	80.5	73.5	87.5	< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			340.0	62.5	393.0		≥ 50%		78.3	432.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		$10,622	$187	$10,436
Phoebus High	Public	9-12	100 Ireland St	Hampton	23663	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 727-1000	1,391	86	16.0	93.7%	226 (16.2%)	901 (64.8%)	106 (7.6%)	16 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.5%)	134 (9.6%)	67.8	100^th of 331 public high schools	69.8%		71	84^th of 328 public high schools	74.4%	16		88.0		≥ 50%		97.9		< 50%	≥ 50%			88.0	69.0	66.7	91.7		100.0	84.6	69.2	406.0						98.2	75.0	77.8	83.9				≥ 50%	< 50%				< 50%	81.8	91.8	81.4	85.5	≥ 50%				421.0	43.1	73.7	64.6	84.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	38.5	384.0	≥ 50%		$12,302	$497	$11,804
Kecoughtan High	Public	9-12	522 Woodland Rd	Hampton	23669	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 850-5000	1,553	108	14.4	93.2%	595 (38.3%)	645 (41.5%)	129 (8.3%)	45 (2.9%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	133 (8.6%)	59.2	150^th of 331 public high schools	54.7%		66.3	110^th of 328 public high schools	66.5%	40	19.4	75.2	78.6	81.3		77.0	52.9	≥ 50%	< 50%			76.5	63.6	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		97.4	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%						91.2	64.1	82.1	92.9									≥ 50%	61.1	87.5	97.2	100.0	≥ 50%			≥ 50%	407.0	46.2	70.0	76.1	389.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	447.0	53.7	< 50%			$11,747	$490	$11,258
Tabb High	Public	9-12	4431 Big Bethel Rd	Yorktown	23693	York County	York County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 867-7400	1,153	75	15.3	21.8%	629 (54.6%)	154 (13.4%)	135 (11.7%)	99 (8.6%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.4%)	128 (11.1%)	77.3	40^th of 331 public high schools	87.9%		77.2	40^th of 328 public high schools	87.8%			< 50%	86.5	71.4		96.9	58.8	< 50%	< 50%			94.4	394.0	57.1	≥ 50%		100.0	≥ 50%	431.0					418.0	395.0	96.2	74.4	385.0	≥ 50%		≥ 50%	72.7	385.0	≥ 50%					< 50%	94.2	369.0	92.2	≥ 50%					16.7		92.5	≥ 50%	< 50%		< 50%	64.7	426.0			$9,609	$424	$9,185
Menchville High	Public	9-12	275 Menchville Rd	Newport News	23602	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 886-7722	1,707	126	13.6	95.7%	534 (31.3%)	650 (38.1%)	365 (21.4%)	43 (2.5%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	110 (6.4%)	37.5	257^th of 331 public high schools	22.4%		39.3	250^th of 328 public high schools	23.8%	7						69.8	< 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%		≥ 50%	76.0	90.9	414.0	91.7		95.7	56.5	63.6	≥ 50%				≥ 50%	≥ 50%	88.8	60.2	55.8	73.8		< 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	< 50%					50.0	81.9	60.0	100.0		≥ 50%	≥ 50%			< 50%	400.0	411.0	< 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%				$10,511	$379	$10,132
Poquoson High	Public	9-12	51 Odd Rd	Poquoson	23662	Poquoson city	Poquoson City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 868-7123	647	53	12.3	20.1%	571 (88.3%)	7 (1.1%)	28 (4.3%)	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (4.9%)	80	25^th of 331 public high schools	92.4%		79.5	24^th of 328 public high schools	92.7%	1		≥ 50%	87.9	≥ 50%		96.2	390.0					100.0	70.4	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		100.0								< 50%	100.0	88.3	83.3	≥ 50%			< 50%	< 50%						≥ 50%	93.6	423.0						< 50%	373.0	394.0	89.9	366.0	< 50%			25.0				$10,413	$369	$10,044

Frequently Asked Questions about Heritage High

What district is Heritage High in?

Newport News City Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Heritage High?

Students at Heritage High are 75% African American, 14% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 5% White.

What schools feed into Heritage High?

Heritage High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Carver Elementary
Elementary : Discovery Stem Academy
Elementary : Newsome Park Elementary
Middle : Crittenden Middle
Prekindergarten : John Marshall Early Childhood Center

How many students attend Heritage High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,106 students attended Heritage High.

Is Heritage High a good school?

Heritage High ranks in the bottom 3.9% of Virginia high schools.

Rate Heritage High!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

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

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 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.