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Mack Benn Junior Elementary

Q: Is Mack Benn Junior Elementary a good school?

Mack Benn Junior Elementary ranks 814 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

814^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Mack Benn Junior Elementary is a PK–5 school in Suffolk, VA, serving 713 students as part of Suffolk City Public Schools. The school has climbed from the 7th percentile statewide in 2015–16 to the 27th percentile in 2025–26—real progress, though it still sits below the Virginia average and trails several nearby elementary schools. Like most Suffolk elementaries, about 69% of Mack Benn students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

The school's biggest red flag is chronic absenteeism: 19.5% in 2024–25, well above the 14.8% state average and nearly double the rates at nearby Creekside Elementary (11.7%) and Kilby Shores Elementary (10.8%)—schools with nearly identical poverty levels. Academic results vary sharply by grade. Fourth grade is a bright spot, with math and reading scores above both district and state averages. But 3rd-grade reading (50.44%) sits 17 points below the state, and 5th-grade math (57.14%) trails the district by about 15 points. Only Elephant's Fork Elementary scores lower among nearby schools.

There are encouraging signs. African American students rank in the 49th percentile statewide—well above the school's overall 27th percentile—and military-connected students have shown strong results. Nearby Southwestern Elementary in Chesapeake City Public Schools performs in the 61st percentile despite an even higher poverty rate, showing that similar challenges can yield different outcomes. The path forward likely lies in improving attendance, strengthening early reading, and addressing the 5th-grade drop-off. Mack Benn has already proven it can succeed in certain grades and with certain student groups; the task is making that success consistent.

713

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,133

Per pupil spending ?

69.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1253 Nansemond Pkwy
Suffolk, VA 23434

(757) 934-6224

District: Suffolk City Public Schools

Students who attend Mack Benn Junior Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	John F. Kennedy Middle
High:	King's Fork High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

67.3%

White:

14.7%

Hispanic:

10.1%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Mack Benn Junior Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 7th percentile in 2016 → 27th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 20 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (63% vs 72% meeting standards)

!Science scores 11 pts below the Virginia average

!Near the bottom of Suffolk City Public Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg71%

Virginia avg72%

814^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▲ up 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Suffolk City Public Schools

72^nd of 131Suffolk 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	32.6	814 of 1111	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.4	766 of 1110	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.3	850 of 1114	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.8	881 of 1114	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.0	1001 of 1109	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.7	934 of 1103	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.1	1014 of 1105	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.1	974 of 1097	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.2	1006 of 1099	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	15.1	1020 of 1096	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	28.1	893 of 1100	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.3	962 of 1110	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.0	1003 of 1120	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	52.8	580 of 1117	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	23.3	1015 of 1117	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	35.3	894 of 1113	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	12.1	1054 of 1082	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	18.8	1011 of 1081	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	31.3	891 of 1083	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	19.6	984 of 1071	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	34.9	813 of 1062	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	52.6	301 of 591	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.7	307 of 579	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.0	373 of 588	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.1	403 of 579	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	38.1	750 of 1100	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.3	759 of 1096	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.2	886 of 1098	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	905 of 1100	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	57.8	258 of 564	54.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	33.2	759 of 1040	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.0	715 of 1046	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.0	740 of 1036	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	26.3	889 of 1099	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.4	785 of 1093	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.7	796 of 1101	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.6	849 of 1093	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	51.6	114 of 206	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.0	58 of 195	70.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	23.0	832 of 974	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	39.6	664 of 973	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.7	498 of 979	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.1	779 of 984	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2023)54th percentile+33 vs school

African American (2026)49th percentile+22 vs school

Military Connected (2026)45th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2026)32nd percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile~ school

Male (2026)19th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)15th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies67%-4 vs state

Mathematics64%-9 vs state

English Reading63%-8 vs state

Science58%-11 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, December 15, 2023

The disciplinary team is horrible the punish kids for standing up for them selves while letting bully’s stay in school. They do not have a clue one how to run 504 or IEP meetings. This school is so unorganized and honestly horrible. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, February 26, 2020

If students were only the sum of an SOL test, the world would be in trouble. This is my second year as a parent of a MBJE student and for the second year I am beyond impressed by the teachers and staff of this school. It's unfortunate that these rankings only take SOL teat scores into account and leave out the life that happens every day for some of these kids. I see how much the teachers and staff love, motivate, and educate these young minds and I'm thankful for every one of them. I could easily put my son in a private school but he would lose the the aspects of education that are not captured by tests and I can't have that. I look forward to my daughter starting kindergarten next year because I know she will be in great hands. Close Quote

Schools Near Mack Benn Junior 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 Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th 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
Mack Benn Junior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1253 Nansemond Pkwy	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 934-6224	713	44	16.2	69.3%	105 (14.7%)	480 (67.3%)	72 (10.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	50 (7.0%)	32.6	814^th of 1111 public elementary schools	26.7%		35.4	766^th of 1110 public elementary schools	31.0%	48	60.2	76.3	57.1	58.1	50.4	77.4	64.8	66.7		$8,133	$1,251	$6,882
Hillpoint Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1101 Hillpoint Rd	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 925-6750	780	39	20.0	69.2%	143 (18.3%)	479 (61.4%)	81 (10.4%)	13 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (7.9%)	27.9	869^th of 1111 public elementary schools	21.8%		28.3	846^th of 1110 public elementary schools	23.8%	23	57.3	67.5	68.6	48.6	52.9	68.8	62.3	65.1		$6,465	$664	$5,801
Elephant's Fork Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2316 William Reid Dr	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 923-5250	653	36	18.1	69.1%	140 (21.4%)	408 (62.5%)	56 (8.6%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.9%)	26.9	877^th of 1111 public elementary schools	21.1%		21.1	916^th of 1110 public elementary schools	17.5%	39	72.9	60.2	43.4	49.1	64.7	69.9	63.2	59.2		$8,038	$1,038	$6,999
Booker T. Washington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	204 Walnut Street	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 934-6226	362	25	14.4	70.4%	39 (10.8%)	277 (76.5%)	21 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.6%)	37.3	764^th of 1111 public elementary schools	31.2%		17.1	960^th of 1110 public elementary schools	13.5%	196	65.0	63.1	72.5	60.9	55.0	73.9	71.0	64.6		$12,312	$2,563	$9,749
Nansemond Parkway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3012 Nansemond Pkwy	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 923-4167	456	29	15.7	69.3%	135 (29.6%)	245 (53.7%)	31 (6.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (9.4%)	48.6	622^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	44.0%		53.3	562^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	49.4%	60	59.2	82.7	76.4	65.5	46.7	80.0	74.6	77.3		$9,716	$1,110	$8,606
Kilby Shores Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Kilby Shores Dr	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 934-6214	494	29	17.0	69.2%	179 (36.2%)	211 (42.7%)	52 (10.5%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	45 (9.1%)	39.6	738^th of 1111 public elementary schools	33.6%		52.1	573^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	48.4%	165	80.0	71.3	62.1	59.1	64.3	75.5	62.1	56.4		$9,375	$1,045	$8,330
Florence Bowser Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4540 Nansemond Pkwy	Suffolk	23435	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 923-4106	926	44	21.0	69.3%	350 (37.8%)	358 (38.7%)	128 (13.8%)	12 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (8.3%)	54.5	564^th of 1111 public elementary schools	49.2%		66.4	401^st of 1110 public elementary schools	63.9%	163	70.1	76.7	76.9	71.4	60.5	76.7	77.4	74.1		$6,667	$285	$6,381
Oakland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5505 Godwin Blvd	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 923-5248	464	26	17.8	68.8%	137 (29.5%)	245 (52.8%)	34 (7.3%)	4 (0.9%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (8.4%)	71.5	329^th of 1111 public elementary schools	70.4%		77.3	258^th of 1110 public elementary schools	76.8%	71	93.3	79.4	89.6	79.1	81.4	76.2	86.6	61.9		$8,640	$897	$7,744
Southwestern Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	109 Benefit Road	Chesapeake	23322	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 465-6310	549	40	13.5	74.1%	69 (12.6%)	383 (69.8%)	59 (10.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (6.0%)	63.6	431^st of 1111 public elementary schools	61.2%		57.2	514^th of 1110 public elementary schools	53.7%	83	81.6	85.5	78.8	70.4	75.9	73.2	73.4	67.9	87.3	$11,018	$1,447	$9,570
Creekside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 Bennetts Creek Park Road	Suffolk	23435	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 923-4251	764	47	16.2	69.4%	175 (22.9%)	403 (52.7%)	89 (11.6%)	17 (2.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	76 (9.9%)	58.5	499^th of 1111 public elementary schools	55.1%		49.1	612^th of 1110 public elementary schools	44.9%	113	69.1	78.9	84.2	75.6	60.9	77.2	78.3	73.0		$7,668	$685	$6,983

Frequently Asked Questions about Mack Benn Junior Elementary

What district is Mack Benn Junior Elementary in?

Suffolk City Public Schools

How many students attend Mack Benn Junior Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 713 students attended Mack Benn Junior Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Mack Benn Junior Elementary?

Students at Mack Benn Junior Elementary are 67% African American, 15% White, 10% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Mack Benn Junior Elementary attend?

Students who attend Mack Benn Junior Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : John F. Kennedy Middle
High : King's Fork High

Is Mack Benn Junior Elementary a good school?

Mack Benn Junior Elementary ranks 814^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Mack Benn Junior Elementary!

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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.