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Willard Elementary

Q: Is Willard Elementary a good school?

Willard Elementary ranks 810 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

810^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Willard Elementary is a PK–5 elementary school in Norfolk, VA, serving 441 students within the Norfolk City Public Schools district. The school serves a student body with nearly universal economic need, yet it consistently posts academic results that are above the district average.

Willard’s strongest distinction is its performance relative to the Norfolk district, where it exceeds the average on nearly every SOL test in math, reading, science, and Virginia Studies. It also compares favorably to many of its immediate neighbors, ranking 4th best among 10 nearby elementary schools, ahead of schools like Norview Elementary, Coleman Place Elementary, and James Monroe Elementary. The school has also made significant strides in attendance, cutting its chronic absenteeism rate from roughly 20% to 13.0%—now better than the district and state averages. Families may also appreciate the low student-teacher ratio of 11.3, which suggests more individualized attention. A particular bright spot is 5th-grade content, where scores in Science and Virginia Studies are notably strong.

The most significant concern for parents to monitor is a recent slide in statewide ranking, dropping from the 40th percentile last year to the 27th percentile this year, with broad declines across math and reading scores. This downturn also appears across student subgroups, including low-income and military-connected students. While Willard's results are solid for its district context, nearby high-performing schools like Ghent K-8 and Larchmont Elementary—which serve similar demographics—demonstrate that stronger outcomes are achievable. Willard remains a comparatively stronger option within the district, but the recent decline is a trend worth watching.

441

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,910

Per pupil spending ?

101.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1511 Willow Wood Dr
Norfolk, VA 23509

(757) 628-2721

District: Norfolk City Public Schools

Students who attend Willard Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Norview Middle
High:	Matthew Fontaine Maury High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

56.9%

Hispanic:

17.9%

White:

13.8%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Willard Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 42nd percentile in 2016 → 27th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (64% vs 72% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2016

!Mathematics scores 11 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg58%

Virginia avg72%

810^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to bottom 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 29Elementary Schools in the Norfolk City Public Schools

112^th of 131Norfolk 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	33.2	810 of 1111	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.3	664 of 1110	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	636 of 1114	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.5	696 of 1114	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.8	594 of 1109	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.8	919 of 1103	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.1	688 of 1105	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.0	862 of 1097	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	55.1	545 of 1099	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	49.2	637 of 1096	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.8	667 of 1100	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	25.4	949 of 1110	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.7	1006 of 1120	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.4	975 of 1117	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.3	948 of 1117	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	44.0	763 of 1113	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	54.4	521 of 1082	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	33.4	849 of 1081	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	32.9	867 of 1083	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	46.8	672 of 1071	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	47.3	627 of 1062	41.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	46.5	350 of 591	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.0	212 of 579	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.8	247 of 588	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.0	316 of 579	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	38.6	744 of 1100	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.0	618 of 1096	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.4	610 of 1098	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.2	749 of 1100	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	301 of 619	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.8	219 of 606	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.0	139 of 580	76.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	46.9	593 of 1040	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.1	377 of 1046	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.0	345 of 1036	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	28.1	862 of 1099	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.7	695 of 1093	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	674 of 1101	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.7	657 of 1093	39.9%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	50.8	119 of 206	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.7	79 of 195	59.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	59.2	424 of 984	56.9%	★★★☆☆

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 (2023)57th percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)51st percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+16 vs school

Military Connected (2026)42nd percentile+15 vs school

African American (2026)41st percentile+14 vs school

Female (2026)32nd percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)22nd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies67%-4 vs state

English Reading65%-6 vs state

Science62%-6 vs state

Mathematics62%-11 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A great school, welcoming and family friendly. My children for the most part have had excellent teachers, and the staff and administration are friendly and family oriented. The PTA is doing great things, and recently had new carpet put in the gym among other accomplishments. There are many extra-curricular activities and clubs that the children can take part in. Close Quote

Schools Near Willard 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 Geometry (2026)	SOL Algebra I (2026)		SOL Mathematics (2026)						SOL 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 8th 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 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 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
Willard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1511 Willow Wood Dr	Norfolk	23509	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 628-2721	441	39	11.3	101.8%	61 (13.8%)	251 (56.9%)	79 (17.9%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (10.0%)	33.2	810^th of 1111 public elementary schools	27.1%		45.3	664^th of 1110 public elementary schools	40.2%	146				66.7	57.6	60.9				62.5		64.9	66.7	64.1							64.2	70.3	$9,910	$743	$9,167
Suburban Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	310 Thole St	Norfolk	23505	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 531-3118	415	32	12.9	100.5%	48 (11.6%)	250 (60.2%)	70 (16.9%)	3 (0.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (9.2%)	42.4	706^th of 1111 public elementary schools	36.5%		20.6	922^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	16.9%	216				42.9	77.4	87.5				78.1		34.7	69.2	77.4							58.5	87.1	$10,583	$1,468	$9,115
Lindenwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 Ludlow St	Norfolk	23504	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 628-2577	243	22	11.0	99.6%	21 (8.6%)	170 (70.0%)	35 (14.4%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.3%)	23.6	911^th of 1111 public elementary schools	18.0%		20.9	919^th of 1110 public elementary schools	17.2%	8				71.1	51.4	48.0				44.0		60.5	62.2	52.0							71.4	52.2	$15,075	$2,293	$12,782
James Monroe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	520 W 29th St	Norfolk	23508	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 628-3500	299	27	11.0	99.7%	33 (11.0%)	205 (68.6%)	27 (9.0%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.7%)	17.5	969^th of 1111 public elementary schools	12.8%		21.6	911^th of 1110 public elementary schools	17.9%	58				64.0	39.4	72.2				50.0		48.0	34.4	66.7							36.4	54.3	$14,228	$1,564	$12,664
Granby Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7101 Newport Ave	Norfolk	23505	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 451-4150	464	37	12.5	99.6%	80 (17.2%)	265 (57.1%)	59 (12.7%)	10 (2.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (10.1%)	5.5	1062^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	4.4%		16.7	963^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	13.2%	99				45.6	40.0	36.9				36.9		46.4	60.0	49.2							41.7	43.1	$9,621	$665	$8,955
Norview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6401 Chesapeake Blvd	Norfolk	23513	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 852-4660	412	31	13.2	100.2%	26 (6.3%)	266 (64.6%)	95 (23.1%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (4.6%)	18.7	956^th of 1111 public elementary schools	14.0%		12.5	1004^th of 1110 public elementary schools	9.5%	48				45.3	61.4	59.4				46.9		47.2	68.4	59.4							49.1	64.1	$10,886	$925	$9,961
Sherwood Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3035 Sherwood Forest Lane	Norfolk	23513	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 852-4500	406	33	12.3	100.5%	92 (22.7%)	159 (39.2%)	109 (26.8%)	12 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.1%)	15.7	981^st of 1111 public elementary schools	11.7%		18.3	947^th of 1110 public elementary schools	14.7%	34				49.3	61.6	52.9				43.1		58.1	64.4	50.0							56.2	37.3	$9,440	$845	$8,595
Coleman Place Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2445 Palmyra St.	Norfolk	23513	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 852-4641	551	42	13.1	99.6%	38 (6.9%)	343 (62.3%)	97 (17.6%)	8 (1.5%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	61 (11.1%)	3.6	1085^th of 1111 public elementary schools	2.3%		8.6	1040^th of 1110 public elementary schools	6.3%	45				38.3	27.8	39.7				34.6		46.9	33.3	52.6							27.8	47.4	$8,637	$1,238	$7,399
Larchmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1145 Bolling Ave	Norfolk	23508	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 451-4180	455	28	16.2	99.8%	247 (54.3%)	116 (25.5%)	39 (8.6%)	19 (4.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.0%)	74	293^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	73.6%		73.4	304^th of 1110 public elementary schools	72.6%	11				86.4	77.8	73.7				80.7		81.4	88.9	87.7							73.0	87.5	$8,302	$43	$8,258
Ghent K-8	Public	K-8	200 Shirley Ave	Norfolk	23517	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 628-2565	501	36	13.9	99.4%	213 (42.5%)	215 (42.9%)	28 (5.6%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.6%)	77.9	234^th of 1111 public elementary schools	78.9%		70.5	347^th of 1110 public elementary schools	68.7%	113	≥ 50%	100.0	88.6	78.3	80.4	93.6	67.6	375.0	366.0	87.1	71.4	75.0	84.3	93.6	78.6	91.1	70.2	100.0	100.0	29.2	88.2	96.8	$9,894	$204	$9,690

Frequently Asked Questions about Willard Elementary

Is Willard Elementary a good school?

Willard Elementary ranks 810^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Willard Elementary in?

Norfolk City Public Schools

How many students attend Willard Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 441 students attended Willard Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Willard Elementary attend?

Students who attend Willard Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Norview Middle
High : Matthew Fontaine Maury High

What is the racial makeup of Willard Elementary?

Students at Willard Elementary are 57% African American, 18% Hispanic, 14% White, 10% Two or more races, 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.