Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Nansemond River High

Q: Is Nansemond River High a good school?

Nansemond River High ranks 150 th of 328 Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

150^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 328 Virginia High Schools

Better than 54% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Nansemond River High is a public magnet high school located in Suffolk, Virginia, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 1,681. The school is part of the Suffolk City Public Schools district, which is ranked 74 out of 129 districts in Virginia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Nansemond River High consistently ranks in the top half of Virginia high schools, typically between 100-200 out of 325-329 schools. The school's performance on SOL (Standards of Learning) tests is generally above the district and state averages, particularly in subjects like Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and English Reading. Nansemond River High also maintains a high 4-year graduation rate, typically around 92%, which is slightly above the district and state averages, and a dropout rate that is generally lower than the district and state.

Compared to nearby schools in the Suffolk City Public Schools district, Nansemond River High generally outperforms them on academic measures. However, the school's performance is not as strong as some of the high-performing magnet schools in the neighboring Chesapeake City Public Schools district, such as Grassfield High. Additionally, Nansemond River High has a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with around 65-67% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in recent years.

1,683

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,663

Per pupil spending ?

68.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3301 Nansemond Pkwy
Suffolk, VA 23435

(757) 923-4101

District: Suffolk City Public Schools

Feeder schools for Nansemond River High:

Elementary:	Creekside Elementary
	Florence Bowser Elementary
	Nansemond Parkway Elementary
	Northern Shores Elementary
Middle:	Colonel Fred Cherry Middle
	John Yeates Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.4%

White:

30.2%

Hispanic:

9.5%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Nansemond River High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 53rd percentile in 2015 → 54th in 2025

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Virginia average (92%)

✓Above the Virginia median (54th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (24% vs 15% Virginia)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!VA and US History scores 16 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school79%

District avg75%

Virginia avg78%

150^th of 328

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 46%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High Schools in the Suffolk City Public Schools

74^th of 129Suffolk 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
2025	59.7	150 of 328	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.6	136 of 329	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.6	172 of 326	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.4	138 of 325	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.6	215 of 327	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.9	104 of 327	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.2	174 of 326	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	54.0	133 of 324	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	49.2	162 of 321	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.7	152 of 322	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	52.3	127 of 322	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	44.9	182 of 321	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.9	151 of 321	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	44.7	189 of 320	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.0	189 of 317	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	43.7	193 of 313	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	48.3	157 of 316	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	50.7	146 of 313	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	45.5	190 of 314	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	39.9	227 of 308	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	61.8	89 of 245	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.2	65 of 249	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	60.2	88 of 240	63.3%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	49.1	75 of 118	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	34.9	180 of 253	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.1	149 of 249	40.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	56.9	154 of 321	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.3	167 of 322	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.2	203 of 320	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	63.5	76 of 236	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.0	77 of 233	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.2	48 of 232	79.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	49.3	176 of 324	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.1	82 of 320	74.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	61.0	135 of 322	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.1	105 of 322	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.7	146 of 321	54.5%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	58.2	38 of 92	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.5	72 of 92	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	71.1	46 of 198	76.8%	★★★★☆
2024	64.1	64 of 198	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.9	71 of 193	63.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	66.8	97 of 313	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.9	82 of 314	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	52.4	181 of 315	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Multi-racial (2025)77th percentile+22 vs school

White (2025)69th percentile+15 vs school

Hispanic (2025)68th percentile+14 vs school

African American (2025)64th percentile+9 vs school

Military Connected (2024)59th percentile~ school

Male (2025)58th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)52nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)46th percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2024)36th percentile-22 vs school

Disabled (2024)29th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Algebra II98%+4 vs state

Geometry93%+8 vs state

English Reading89%~ state avg

Writing85%+6 vs state

Algebra I84%+5 vs state

Biology82%+5 vs state

World History I70%+5 vs state

Earth Science61%-6 vs state

World History II27%~ state avg

VA and US History25%-16 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Nansemond River High

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a student
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Nansemond River school is the best the staff and students are awesome. I am freshman to suffolk schools and 9th grade. They have made my new year so much fun. I can't wait to go back to school tomorrow. Close Quote

Schools Near Nansemond River High

Load more schools when map is moved

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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Writing (2025)			SOL Geometry (2025)		SOL Algebra I (2025)				SOL Algebra II (2025)	SOL Biology (2025)				SOL Earth Science (2025)				SOL English Reading (2025)				SOL Geography (2025)	SOL VA and US History (2025)			SOL World History I (2025)				SOL World History II (2025)		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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th 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 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Nansemond River High	Public, Magnet	9-12	3301 Nansemond Pkwy	Suffolk	23435	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 923-4101	1,683	109	15.4	68.9%	509 (30.2%)	831 (49.4%)	160 (9.5%)	43 (2.6%)	5 (0.3%)	6 (0.4%)	129 (7.7%)	59.7	150^th of 328 public high schools	54.3%		61.6	136^th of 329 public high schools	58.7%	14		85.7	69.6	92.6		85.1	69.2			97.7	91.0	60.9	59.1	70.0	69.1	42.2					89.0	86.4			20.3	50.0	71.6	51.9				27.0	$7,663	$32	$7,632
King's Fork High	Public	9-12	351 Kings Fork Road	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 923-5240	1,686	104	16.2	67.4%	262 (15.5%)	1,172 (69.5%)	111 (6.6%)	16 (0.9%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	118 (7.0%)	49.3	203^rd of 328 public high schools	38.1%		37.5	253^rd of 329 public high schools	23.1%	50	52.9	81.1	71.4	86.8	61.5	84.9	85.0	76.9	100.0	100.0	73.7	56.8	69.2	100.0	77.8	57.4	60.0	92.9	79.2	54.6	85.3	84.2			28.0	69.2	64.6	81.8		92.9	54.6	21.6	$7,684	$213	$7,471
Western Branch High	Public	9-12	1968 Bruin Pl	Chesapeake	23321	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 638-7900	2,138	147	14.5	72.8%	805 (37.7%)	843 (39.4%)	197 (9.2%)	68 (3.2%)	12 (0.6%)	7 (0.3%)	206 (9.6%)	66.8	108^th of 328 public high schools	67.1%		62.8	130^th of 329 public high schools	60.5%	22	81.8	77.7	61.1	95.3	61.9	97.3	77.6	64.7	80.0	100.0	96.3	77.6	70.0	81.0	71.4	89.5	75.0				87.7	82.1	81.8		38.3	73.3	76.4	66.7				60.0	$10,108	$355	$9,753
Manor High	Public, Magnet	9-12	1401 Elmhurst Ln	Portsmouth	23701	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 465-2907	1,149	100	11.4	100.3%	239 (20.8%)	739 (64.3%)	91 (7.9%)	8 (0.7%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	67 (5.8%)	47	215^th of 328 public high schools	34.5%		36.2	258^th of 329 public high schools	21.6%	43		67.2	66.7	86.1		79.0	87.5	87.5		60.0	66.1	55.4	54.3	82.4						55.6	82.1	88.6					83.7	78.3	100.0	100.0			$10,656	$1,258	$9,398
Lakeland High	Public, Magnet	9-12	214 Kenyon Road	Suffolk	23434	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 925-5790	1,045	86	12.2	69.1%	344 (32.9%)	585 (56.0%)	58 (5.6%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (4.9%)	42.4	240^th of 328 public high schools	26.8%		40.6	239^th of 329 public high schools	27.4%	1		67.2		89.6		84.7	75.0			100.0	81.9	70.4	82.6			13.0				50.0	79.6				9.3		67.4	84.0	85.7	100.0		7.4	$9,071	$237	$8,834
Churchland High	Public, Magnet	9-12	4301 Cedar Ln	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 686-2500	1,453	98	14.8	100.4%	278 (19.1%)	993 (68.3%)	87 (6.0%)	13 (0.9%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	78 (5.4%)	73	72^nd of 328 public high schools	78.0%		66.8	102^nd of 329 public high schools	69.0%	30		77.5	62.1	77.1	80.0	86.8	94.1	100.0	100.0	96.3	88.4	79.1	89.6	100.0	76.9						94.6	100.0					92.1	100.0	100.0	100.0			$8,964	$1,034	$7,930
Deep Creek High	Public, Magnet	9-12	2900 Margaret Booker Dr	Chesapeake	23323	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 558-5302	1,691	121	13.9	72.3%	585 (34.6%)	624 (36.9%)	245 (14.5%)	58 (3.4%)	5 (0.3%)	6 (0.4%)	168 (9.9%)	61.4	133^rd of 328 public high schools	59.5%		57.6	157^th of 329 public high schools	52.3%	24	72.7	82.6	66.7	98.7		89.4	66.7	70.6		100.0	92.3	59.4	46.3	83.3	100.0					63.6	88.1	76.2	93.5		27.1	71.4	74.6	46.0	66.7			21.7	$11,378	$383	$10,995
Smithfield High	Public	9-12	14171 Turner Dr	Smithfield	23430	Isle of Wight County	Isle of Wight County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 357-3108	1,322	82	16.2	31.9%	692 (52.3%)	424 (32.1%)	89 (6.7%)	16 (1.2%)	5 (0.4%)	3 (0.2%)	93 (7.0%)	52.3	185^th of 328 public high schools	43.6%		64.7	120^th of 329 public high schools	63.5%	65	34.5	85.6	91.7	94.6		74.4	64.7				75.1	64.0					57.1			65.4	91.0			35.7	33.3		76.2		70.0				$8,908	$415	$8,494
I.C. Norcom High	Public, Magnet	9-12	1801 London Blvd	Portsmouth	23704	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 393-5442	1,009	75	13.4	100.7%	42 (4.2%)	883 (87.5%)	41 (4.1%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	35 (3.5%)	42.3	241^st of 328 public high schools	26.5%		29.4	291^st of 329 public high schools	11.6%	50		61.5	26.9	71.0		70.2	73.8	75.0	85.3	100.0	76.1	63.3	61.7	80.3							83.7	61.7					69.3	90.0	97.3	92.1			$10,960	$1,693	$9,267
Windsor High	Public	9-12	24 Church Street	Windsor	23487	Isle of Wight County	Isle of Wight County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 242-6172	508	38	13.5	62.0%	363 (71.5%)	75 (14.8%)	31 (6.1%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.1%)	75.9	50^th of 328 public high schools	84.8%		65	115^th of 329 public high schools	65.0%	65		86.0		94.0		94.1	93.3				88.9	72.7									93.1						91.5						$12,227	$317	$11,911

Frequently Asked Questions about Nansemond River High

What is the racial makeup of Nansemond River High?

Students at Nansemond River High are 49% African American, 30% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is Nansemond River High a good school?

Nansemond River High ranks 150^th of 328 Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Nansemond River High in?

Suffolk City Public Schools

What schools feed into Nansemond River High?

Nansemond River High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Creekside Elementary
Elementary : Florence Bowser Elementary
Elementary : Nansemond Parkway Elementary
Elementary : Northern Shores Elementary
Middle : Colonel Fred Cherry Middle
Middle : John Yeates Middle

How many students attend Nansemond River High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,683 students attended Nansemond River High.

Rate Nansemond River High!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

VAVirginia High School Rankings

VAVirginia District Rankings

Schools in Suffolk, VA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Nansemond River High!

Latest Virginia data All new data »

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

2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2025

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.