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Cradock Middle

Public Grades 7-8

390^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 6% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Cradock Middle is a small Title I school in Portsmouth, VA, serving 516 students in grades 7–8 as part of Portsmouth City Public Schools. The school serves one of the most economically disadvantaged populations in the region, with a free/reduced lunch rate above 100%, and it has ranked in the bottom 6–7% of Virginia middle schools for the past several years.

There are some genuinely encouraging signs. Chronic absenteeism has fallen dramatically, from 60.8% in 2020–2021 to 18.8% in 2024–2025, though it still sits above the state average. Advanced math is a clear strength: Cradock's Algebra I students score at or above state averages, and Geometry students post an 87.5% pass rate. The challenge is that these strong results are concentrated in advanced courses. In standard on-grade classes, only about 25–31% of students pass math, and reading proficiency sits in the upper 40s — well below state averages. Within Portsmouth, Cradock actually outpaces William E. Waters Middle in math and science, but trails in reading and civics, suggesting the two schools have different instructional strengths.

The comparison to nearby Chesapeake schools is stark. Cradock's 8th-grade reading pass rate of 48.7% is far behind schools like Jolliff Middle (79.7%), Western Branch Middle (77.6%), and Deep Creek Middle (76.1%). Cradock actually spends more per student ($13,319) than any nearby school, yet its student-teacher ratio of 13.5 is higher than most Chesapeake schools — meaning the extra funding isn't translating into smaller classes or higher achievement. Military-connected students at Cradock also perform at the very bottom of their statewide peer group, which is a point of concern given the region's proximity to military installations. For parents, the picture is mixed: a school with real strengths in advanced math and improving attendance, but one where most students are still not reaching grade-level proficiency.

516

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,627

Per pupil spending ?

99.4%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2022-23)

21 Alden Ave
Portsmouth, VA 23702-2268

(757) 393-8788

District: Portsmouth City Public Schools

Students who attend Cradock Middle usually attend:

High:

Manor High

Feeder schools for Cradock Middle:

Elementary:	Brighton Elementary
	Cradock Elementary
	Douglass Park Elementary
	Victory Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

76.6%

Two or more races:

7.9%

White:

7.0%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 3rd percentile in 2016 → 6th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (47% vs 70% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (29% vs 13% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg52%

Virginia avg70%

390^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 6%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 3% (2016) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Middle Schools in the Portsmouth City Public Schools

114^th of 131Portsmouth 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	12.1	390 of 416	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.5	389 of 419	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.5	387 of 417	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.7	401 of 422	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.5	397 of 415	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.6	349 of 419	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	3.3	418 of 424	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.8	405 of 413	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	2.2	409 of 415	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	6.8	397 of 409	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	10.0	389 of 412	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	10.7	392 of 416	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	5.4	407 of 416	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	6.7	405 of 413	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	12.6	399 of 413	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	20.9	378 of 408	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	25.6	338 of 390	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	11.9	386 of 391	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	7.3	385 of 387	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.7	381 of 383	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	3.9	338 of 340	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	20.6	257 of 297	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.2	245 of 297	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	253 of 299	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.2	255 of 298	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	19.5	250 of 292	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.9	198 of 281	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	256 of 278	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.7	383 of 409	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.4	372 of 403	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	380 of 407	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.3	395 of 411	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	44.2	164 of 283	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.8	168 of 279	39.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	23.1	339 of 403	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.0	369 of 402	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.2	389 of 410	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.2	378 of 404	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.1	379 of 407	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.5	385 of 409	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	16.5	120 of 125	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.9	130 of 130	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	37.0	93 of 123	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	102 of 114	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	10.8	238 of 249	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.1	220 of 244	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.5	171 of 237	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	55.7	97 of 231	58.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.7	385 of 400	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.4	372 of 400	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	334 of 396	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.4	271 of 402	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)42nd percentile+36 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)16th percentile+9 vs school

Disabled (2026)14th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2026)13th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)6th percentile~ school

Male (2026)5th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)4th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2026)4th percentile~ school

White (2026)4th percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I99%+4 vs state

Geometry88%-10 vs state

Civics and Economics48%-27 vs state

English Reading48%-25 vs state

Science45%-20 vs state

Mathematics28%-21 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 6, 2018

GREAT LEADERSHIP AND HARD WORKING TEACHERS THE STUDENTS ARE HARD WORKERS AS WELL THEY WORK HARD IN THERE COMMUNITY AND IN THERE STUDIES THIS SCHOOL GETS A BAD REP BUT FOR MY DAUGHTER SHE HAS DONE GREAT IN THIS SCHOOL THEY HAVE LOTS OF AFTER SCHOOL HELP AND ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THE STUDENTS ACTIVELY ENGAGED. GREAT JOB CRADOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL! Close Quote

Schools Near Cradock 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)			SOL VA Studies (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 6th 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 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
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	—	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			$14,627	$2,280	$12,347
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	—	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			$15,122	$2,009	$13,113
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					$13,563	$1,075	$12,488
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					$13,079	$561	$12,518
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	$16,746	$1,291	$15,455
Deep Creek Middle	Public	6-8	1955 Deal Dr	Chesapeake	23323	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 558-5321	764	66	11.6	72.8%	272 (35.6%)	260 (34.0%)	150 (19.6%)	8 (1.0%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (8.9%)	54.9	206^th of 416 public middle schools	50.5%		51.1	216^th of 419 public middle schools	48.4%	10		100.0		95.7	93.1					55.9	65.4	47.0		69.8						77.8	76.9	76.1		61.9					$12,459	$282	$12,177
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					$13,316	$283	$13,033
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			$11,342	$361	$10,981
Hugo A. Owens Middle	Public	6-8	1997 Horseback Run	Chesapeake	23323	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 558-5382	1,286	99	13.0	25.2%	612 (47.6%)	318 (24.7%)	181 (14.1%)	43 (3.3%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	127 (9.9%)	77.3	59^th of 416 public middle schools	85.8%		74.5	91^st of 419 public middle schools	78.3%	32		100.0		100.0	99.1	≥ 50%				72.4	65.1	66.9		78.2		≥ 50%				82.5	81.5	86.0		81.2					$9,568	$329	$9,239
Jolliff Middle	Public	6-8	1021 Jolliff Rd.	Chesapeake	23321	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 465-5246	753	65	11.5	73.8%	322 (42.8%)	256 (34.0%)	88 (11.7%)	19 (2.5%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	64 (8.5%)	70	104^th of 416 public middle schools	75.0%		71.9	106^th of 419 public middle schools	74.7%	2		100.0		100.0	100.0					71.3	54.3	74.7		73.5		≥ 50%				77.8	79.0	79.7		79.4					$12,931	$461	$12,470

Frequently Asked Questions about Cradock Middle

Is Cradock Middle a good school?

Cradock Middle ranks in the bottom 6.3% of Virginia middle schools.

What district is Cradock Middle in?

Portsmouth City Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Cradock Middle?

Students at Cradock Middle are 77% African American, 8% Two or more races, 7% White, 7% Hispanic.

How many students attend Cradock Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 516 students attended Cradock Middle.

What high school do graduates of Cradock Middle attend?

Students who attend Cradock Middle usually go on to attend Manor High

Rate Cradock Middle!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 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.