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Ruffner School

Q: Is Ruffner School a good school?

Ruffner School ranks in the bottom 1.4% of Virginia middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Ruffner School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 576 students attended Ruffner School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Ruffner School?

Students at Ruffner School are 92% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% White.

Public Grades 3-8

410^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 1% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Ruffner School in Norfolk, VA serves grades 3–8 with 576 students and is part of Norfolk City Public Schools, a district that itself ranks in the bottom 15% of Virginia districts. Ruffner sits at the bottom of that district: in 2025–2026 it ranked 410 out of 416 Virginia middle schools, placing it in the 1st percentile with 0 stars. It serves an almost entirely economically disadvantaged population — 93.4% of students qualified for free/reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025. Chronic absenteeism is extremely high, at 32.9%, nearly double the district rate and more than double the statewide rate.

Academically, proficiency rates at Ruffner are dramatically below district and state averages in nearly every subject. In 2025–2026, only 4.08% of 5th graders were proficient in math, and just 14.29% were proficient in reading. Chronic absenteeism is the highest among nearby middle schools, ranging from 7.3% at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood to 24.3% at Azalea Gardens Middle. The contrast with Academy for Discovery is particularly striking: that school serves the same grades and has an even higher free/reduced-price lunch rate (100%), yet it ranks in the 68th percentile statewide with 5th grade math proficiency of 85.71%. Nearby schools like Blair Middle and Azalea Gardens Middle also spend less per student than Ruffner's $12,376 yet post significantly higher reading and math scores.

Despite the overall picture, there is one clear bright spot: Ruffner's 8th grade Algebra I students scored 100% proficient in 2025–2026, above district and state averages. However, this creates a "two schools in one" pattern where a small group of accelerated students thrives while the vast majority of students in grade-level classes are far behind. The school has ranked in the bottom 1–4% of Virginia schools for ten years, and every student subgroup is served at the bottom of state rankings. For parents, the most urgent concerns are the extreme absenteeism, persistent proficiency gaps, and the fact that higher-than-average spending and a low student-teacher ratio (12.2:1) have not translated into results. Success is possible within the school, but for most students, the pattern points to a need for comprehensive intervention.

576

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,376

Per pupil spending ?

93.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

610 May Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23504

(757) 628-2466

District: Norfolk City Public Schools

Feeder schools for Ruffner School:

Elementary:	Chesterfield Elementary
	Jacox Elementary
	Richard Bowling Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

92.2%

Hispanic:

3.0%

Two or more races:

2.4%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Ruffner School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 1st percentile in 2016 → 1st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (25% vs 71% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (33% vs 15% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school25%

District avg55%

Virginia avg71%

Elementary school

1,102^nd of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▲ up 1 pts since 2024

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

410^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6Middle 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	1.4	1102 of 1111	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.2	1099 of 1110	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.0	1112 of 1114	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	3.9	586 of 591	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.6	568 of 579	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.7	584 of 588	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	0.8	1098 of 1100	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.7	1081 of 1096	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.2	1064 of 1098	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	2.5	1038 of 1040	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.9	1038 of 1046	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.5	1035 of 1036	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	3.9	1068 of 1099	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.8	1075 of 1093	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.5	1101 of 1101	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	3.0	410 of 416	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.6	413 of 419	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.0	413 of 417	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.8	416 of 422	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.9	408 of 415	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.0	417 of 419	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.3	419 of 424	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.0	397 of 413	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	6.8	403 of 415	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	1.9	404 of 409	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	2.7	404 of 412	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	5.7	406 of 416	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	9.2	401 of 416	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	3.1	410 of 413	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	5.2	411 of 413	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	3.8	407 of 408	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	8.8	384 of 390	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	25.6	352 of 391	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	28.8	342 of 387	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.9	345 of 383	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	45.5	231 of 340	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	6.4	292 of 297	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.0	288 of 297	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.3	295 of 299	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.2	285 of 298	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	8.8	288 of 292	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.3	281 of 281	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.1	278 of 278	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	1.4	407 of 409	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.4	399 of 403	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.2	401 of 407	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	1.2	407 of 411	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	4.1	398 of 401	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.3	397 of 403	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.4	398 of 402	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	3.5	404 of 410	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.0	400 of 404	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.4	404 of 407	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.3	400 of 409	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Male (2026)3rd percentile~ school

African American (2026)1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Female (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Middle school

African American (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)1st percentile~ school

Disabled (2026)1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)1st percentile~ school

Female (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I100%+5 vs state

Geography50%-18 vs state

English Reading32%-41 vs state

VA Studies27%-44 vs state

Civics and Economics25%-49 vs state

Mathematics17%-49 vs state

Science14%-53 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, August 28, 2016

Teachers really care about the students here and we didn't see much bullying. Close Quote

Schools Near Ruffner School

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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
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
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
Academy For Discovery At Lakewood	Public	3-8	1701 Alsace Ave	Norfolk	23509	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 628-2477	739	50	14.7	100.0%	365 (49.4%)	223 (30.2%)	63 (8.5%)	19 (2.6%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	65 (8.8%)	66.2	133^rd of 416 public middle schools	68.0%		78.6	55^th of 419 public middle schools	86.9%	78		100.0		100.0	88.9	87.7	94.0	85.7	58.4		375.0	81.0			86.1	79.0	92.8	89.3	78.5	81.9	89.8	88.3		88.3		92.8	95.2	$8,184	$64	$8,120
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
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
Norview Middle	Public	6-8	6325 Sewells Point Rd	Norfolk	23513	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 852-4600	1,196	81	14.7	88.9%	105 (8.8%)	789 (66.0%)	212 (17.7%)	19 (1.6%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	65 (5.4%)	7.4	399^th of 416 public middle schools	4.1%		8.7	400^th of 419 public middle schools	4.5%	1		88.9		68.9	78.3				10.6	22.0	16.6		23.3	470.0	86.0				41.1	44.4	48.4	78.7		77.1	44.6			$8,022	$631	$7,391
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
Azalea Gardens Middle	Public	6-8	7721 Azalea Garden Rd	Norfolk	23518	Norfolk city	Norfolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 531-3000	792	52	15.2	87.8%	196 (24.7%)	321 (40.5%)	176 (22.2%)	20 (2.5%)	5 (0.6%)	4 (0.5%)	70 (8.8%)	28.2	332^nd of 416 public middle schools	20.2%		27.5	335^th of 419 public middle schools	20.0%	3		75.0		100.0	97.9				44.4	22.2	56.0		38.0	473.0	96.6				61.4	53.4	65.8	90.7		86.0	50.3			$7,416	$221	$7,195
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Ruffner School

How many students attend Ruffner School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 576 students attended Ruffner School.

What is the racial makeup of Ruffner School?

Students at Ruffner School are 92% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% White.

What district is Ruffner School in?

Norfolk City Public Schools

Is Ruffner School a good school?

Ruffner School ranks in the bottom 1.4% of Virginia middle schools.

Rate Ruffner School!

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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.