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Armstrong High

Q: Is Armstrong High a good school?

Armstrong High ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Armstrong High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 709 students attended Armstrong High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Armstrong High?

Students at Armstrong High are 85% African American, 7% Hispanic, 4% White, 3% Two or more races.

Q: What schools feed into Armstrong High?

Armstrong High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bellevue Elementary Elementary : Blackwell Elementary Elementary : Chimborazo Elementary Elementary : Fairfield Court Elementary Elementary : Henry Marsh III Elementary Elementary : Overby-Sheppard Elementary Elementary : Woodville Elementary Middle : Martin Luther King Junior Middle

Public Grades 9-12

322^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 3% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Armstrong High is a public high school in Richmond, VA, serving 709 students in grades 9–12 within Richmond City Public Schools, a district ranked in the bottom 10% of Virginia districts. The school serves a very high-need population — 92.5% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch — and has spent a decade ranking in the bottom few percentiles of Virginia high schools, placing 322nd of 331 schools in the 2025-2026 SchoolDigger rankings. It does invest heavily in its students, spending about $15,203 per pupil with a favorable 8.6:1 student-teacher ratio.

Chronic absenteeism is the school's biggest barrier. In 2024-2025, 41.3% of Armstrong students were chronically absent — triple the state average of 14.8% and double the district rate of 20.5%. Nearby schools like Open High (4.6%), Richmond Community High (1.9%), and Franklin Military Academy (7.5%) have dramatically lower rates. On a positive note, graduation rates are improving: they rose from 73.2% in 2021-2022 to 85.6% in 2024-2025, above the district average but below the state's 92.3%. Dropout rates have also fallen from 18.9% to 12.0%.

Academically, Armstrong shows pockets of strength. In 2025-2026, 11th-grade Algebra I proficiency hit 90.9% (above the state's 78.6%), and 9th-grade Biology reached 90%. World History I has also outperformed state averages in recent years. However, literacy lags badly: 10th-grade writing proficiency was just 25.9% and 11th-grade reading was 68.1%, far below state averages. The key takeaway: Armstrong has resources, improving graduation numbers, and bright spots in math and science, but high absenteeism and weak literacy keep it near the bottom of Virginia's rankings. Nearby high-poverty schools like Open High and Richmond Community High prove that stronger outcomes are possible in the same city.

709

Students ?

8.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,203

Per pupil spending ?

92.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2300 Cool Lane
Richmond, VA 23223-4196

(804) 780-4449

District: Richmond City Public Schools

Feeder schools for Armstrong High:

Elementary:	Bellevue Elementary
	Blackwell Elementary
	Chimborazo Elementary
	Fairfield Court Elementary
	More...
	Henry Marsh III Elementary
	Overby-Sheppard Elementary
	Woodville Elementary
Middle:	Martin Luther King Junior Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

85.5%

Hispanic:

6.9%

White:

3.9%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Armstrong High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — <1st percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (57% vs 78% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Virginia average (86% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg60%

Virginia avg78%

322^nd of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Bottom 3%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 9High Schools in the Richmond City Public Schools

118^th of 131Richmond 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	15.0	322 of 331	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.1	318 of 328	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.2	314 of 329	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.7	316 of 326	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.9	313 of 325	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	0.9	324 of 327	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.1	323 of 327	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.1	322 of 326	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.0	321 of 324	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	2.1	320 of 321	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	6.6	320 of 322	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.0	319 of 322	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	7.1	318 of 321	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	9.3	315 of 321	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.0	316 of 320	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	8.7	312 of 317	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	9.7	309 of 313	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	5.2	315 of 316	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	19.6	301 of 313	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	27.4	275 of 314	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	29.0	274 of 308	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	22.1	220 of 242	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	19.8	231 of 245	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	232 of 249	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.3	226 of 240	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	20.8	228 of 252	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.8	214 of 253	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	2.5	247 of 249	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.8	315 of 322	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.2	316 of 321	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	306 of 322	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.6	308 of 320	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	20.1	305 of 321	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	18.8	310 of 324	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.9	301 of 320	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	13.9	317 of 325	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.9	316 of 322	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.6	308 of 322	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	312 of 321	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2026)10th percentile+7 vs school

African American (2026)9th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)5th percentile~ school

Male (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)2nd percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra II79%-8 vs state

Algebra I73%-6 vs state

English Reading70%-16 vs state

Biology57%-20 vs state

Writing30%-46 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Friday, November 2, 2012

Armstrong High School Has The Potential To become one of the best high schools in Virginia. The students need to take thier education more seriously Close Quote

Schools Near Armstrong 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 (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 Writing 9th Grade	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 7th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th 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 Chemistry 12th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth 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 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
Armstrong High	Public	9-12	2300 Cool Lane	Richmond	23223	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-4449	709	82	8.6	92.5%	28 (3.9%)	606 (85.5%)	49 (6.9%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.7%)	15	322^nd of 331 public high schools	2.7%		15.1	318^th of 328 public high schools	3.0%	4	< 50%	25.9	40.5	36.4			406.0					67.7	79.3	90.9	432.0		79.3	432.0	≥ 50%	419.0							90.0	47.7	65.5	60.0											366.0	68.1	77.4	421.0			≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	425.0		≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	458.0		≥ 50%		$15,203	$1,096	$14,106
Franklin Military Academy	Public	6-12	701 North 37th Street	Richmond	23223	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-8526	335	53	6.3	99.7%	65 (19.4%)	164 (49.0%)	89 (26.6%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	67.7	102^nd of 331 public high schools	69.2%		69.6	91^st of 328 public high schools	72.3%	11		90.2	< 50%		≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%			100.0	100.0	≥ 50%				100.0	87.2				97.8						89.7	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			85.3					100.0	95.9	91.8		≥ 50%	92.9						≥ 50%		100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		388.0			98.4	$16,527	$609	$15,918
Richmond Community High	Public	9-12	201 E Brookland Park Boulevard	Richmond	23222	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 780-4332	211	26	8.1	99.5%	52 (24.6%)	118 (55.9%)	26 (12.3%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.2%)	77.4	39^th of 331 public high schools	88.2%		81.1	19^th of 328 public high schools	94.2%	20		98.5					65.9								≥ 50%		100.0	≥ 50%									100.0	≥ 50%														100.0						≥ 50%		100.0				≥ 50%	≥ 50%				$14,578	$655	$13,923
Richmond Success Academy	Public	6-12	119 West Leigh Street	Richmond	23220	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-4388	277	33	8.3		2 (0.7%)	187 (67.5%)	79 (28.5%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	1.4	330^th of 331 public high schools	0.3%		0.3	327^th of 328 public high schools	0.3%	3	318.0	307.0	< 50%	< 50%			< 50%					50.0	245.0	≥ 50%	< 50%			< 50%			322.0	322.0	335.0				317.0	346.0	≥ 50%	< 50%	342.0		372.0	294.0		≥ 50%	325.0	327.0	319.0	< 50%	376.0	376.0	388.0			< 50%	< 50%	< 50%	< 50%	26.1	< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%		< 50%		345.0
Open High	Public	9-12	600 S Pine St	Richmond	23220	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 780-4661	171	19	9.1	101.2%	70 (40.9%)	62 (36.3%)	28 (16.4%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.3%)	85.1	5^th of 331 public high schools	98.5%		88.8	3^rd of 328 public high schools	99.1%	2		97.8					100.0	416.0	< 50%						≥ 50%		95.7	≥ 50%									97.6															100.0																	$10,932	$14	$10,919
John Marshall High	Public	9-12	4225 Old Brook Rd	Richmond	23227	Henrico County	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-6052	645	63	10.2	133.8%	82 (12.7%)	499 (77.4%)	29 (4.5%)	12 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.3%)	22.1	309^th of 331 public high schools	6.6%		29.6	287^th of 328 public high schools	12.5%	22	≥ 50%	30.3	48.4	72.7			54.8	≥ 50%	< 50%			76.7	84.6	83.3	≥ 50%		70.8	393.0	63.6	< 50%							57.9	53.1	81.8	404.0											< 50%	82.1	88.9	437.0			≥ 50%	< 50%		479.0				409.0	409.0	< 50%			$15,985	$1,243	$14,742
Richmond Career Education and Employment Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	4225 Old Brook Rd.	Richmond	23227	Henrico County	Richmond City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(804) 230-7763	32	11	3.0		2 (6.3%)	28 (87.5%)	1 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.1%)								(n/a)																																																											$24,696	$00	$24,696
Henrico High	Public, Magnet	9-12	302 Azalea Ave	Richmond	23227	Henrico County	Henrico County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(804) 228-2700	1,300	93	13.9	86.8%	130 (10.0%)	934 (71.8%)	89 (6.8%)	105 (8.1%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (2.8%)	28.4	289^th of 331 public high schools	12.7%		17.4	316^th of 328 public high schools	3.7%	27							40.3	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			73.5	77.6	72.2	427.0		66.7	< 50%	≥ 50%								77.0	50.3	61.9	73.1				< 50%	< 50%	< 50%				< 50%	84.6	82.2	80.7	≥ 50%					< 50%	< 50%			≥ 50%	70.8	360.0				$10,700	$594	$10,107
Highland Springs High	Public, Magnet	9-12	200 S. Airport Drive	Highland Springs	23075	Henrico County	Henrico County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(804) 328-4000	1,928	117	16.5	86.7%	144 (7.5%)	1,493 (77.4%)	207 (10.7%)	23 (1.2%)	3 (0.2%)	7 (0.4%)	51 (2.6%)	27.9	292^nd of 331 public high schools	11.8%		27.9	292^nd of 328 public high schools	11.0%			≥ 50%					62.2	≥ 50%				72.0	74.4	75.0	100.0		91.1	≥ 50%	< 50%					433.0	434.0	≥ 50%	68.9	60.4	73.0	90.9					378.0						60.0	80.3	77.8	88.9	≥ 50%		< 50%	442.0	< 50%	50.0	≥ 50%			405.0	379.0				$8,877	$515	$8,362
Thomas Jefferson High	Public	9-12	4100 W Grace St	Richmond	23230	Henrico County	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-6028	749	63	11.8	78.2%	173 (23.1%)	477 (63.7%)	61 (8.1%)	11 (1.5%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.8%)	31.1	274^th of 331 public high schools	17.2%		27.3	294^th of 328 public high schools	10.4%	20	404.0	56.0	48.2	44.8			82.1					67.5	417.0	423.0	434.0		77.6	≥ 50%	≥ 50%								71.5	70.7	76.2	403.0											361.0	84.4	72.7	≥ 50%			100.0	433.0		92.9			< 50%	58.3	411.0	< 50%	≥ 50%		$14,341	$1,101	$13,241

Frequently Asked Questions about Armstrong High

How many students attend Armstrong High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 709 students attended Armstrong High.

Is Armstrong High a good school?

Armstrong High ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Virginia high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Armstrong High?

Students at Armstrong High are 85% African American, 7% Hispanic, 4% White, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Armstrong High in?

Richmond City Public Schools

What schools feed into Armstrong High?

Armstrong High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bellevue Elementary
Elementary : Blackwell Elementary
Elementary : Chimborazo Elementary
Elementary : Fairfield Court Elementary
Elementary : Henry Marsh III Elementary
Elementary : Overby-Sheppard Elementary
Elementary : Woodville Elementary
Middle : Martin Luther King Junior Middle

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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.