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Nansemond River High

Q: Is Nansemond River High a good school?

Nansemond River High ranks 99 th of 331 Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Nansemond River High?

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

Q: 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.

Q: 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

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

99^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 70% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Nansemond River High is a large public high school in Suffolk, Virginia, serving 1,683 students in grades 9–12 as part of Suffolk City Public Schools. In the latest statewide ranking, it placed 99th out of 331 Virginia high schools — a 4-star rating that puts it in the top 30% and marks a dramatic climb from 215th just a few years ago. It is now the clear leader among Suffolk's three comprehensive high schools, far outpacing King's Fork High (ranked 242nd) and Lakeland High (ranked 247th), and it also beats several nearby schools including Smithfield High, Deep Creek High, and I.C. Norcom High.

Graduation outcomes are a standout. Nansemond River posts a 96.9% graduation rate, tied with Grassfield High for the highest among nearby schools, and a 1.4% dropout rate that is the lowest in the comparison group. However, chronic absenteeism is a real concern: 23.7% of students are chronically absent, well above the state rate of 14.8% and the district rate of 17.6%. Nearly one in four students misses enough school to raise flags, even though graduation rates remain high — a pattern worth watching closely.

Academically, the school is strongest in 9th-grade courses: Algebra I (87.4% proficient), Geometry (88.7%), Algebra II (100%), and Biology (93.3%) all beat state averages, as do 11th-grade reading and writing. The weak spots are upper-grade retakes, especially 10th-grade Geometry (15.4% proficient) and 11th-grade VA/US History (25.9% proficient). Notably, Nansemond River spends less per student ($7,663) than any nearby school yet still delivers top-quartile results. One area for targeted support: military-connected students rank in the 15th percentile statewide, a steep recent decline worth attention given Suffolk's proximity to major military installations.

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: Improving — 50th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (82% vs 77% meeting standards)

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

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

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 11 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school82%

District avg73%

Virginia avg77%

99^th of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 21 pts since 2016

From top 50% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High 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	67.8	99 of 331	70.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	70.4	53 of 242	78.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	62.2	53 of 120	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.1	75 of 118	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	61.9	78 of 252	69.0%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	65.0	114 of 322	64.6%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	79.5	25 of 242	89.7%	★★★★★
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
2026	61.4	117 of 321	63.6%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	70.1	81 of 325	75.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	30.5	89 of 105	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	65.7	62 of 196	68.4%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	71.1	60 of 312	80.8%	★★★★☆
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)

Hispanic (2026)90th percentile+20 vs school

White (2026)81st percentile+11 vs school

African American (2026)78th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)75th percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2026)69th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)68th percentile~ school

Female (2026)65th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)64th percentile-7 vs school

Asian (2026)56th percentile-14 vs school

Military Connected (2026)15th percentile-55 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra II100%+12 vs state

English Reading92%+6 vs state

Writing86%+11 vs state

Algebra I86%+7 vs state

Biology84%+7 vs state

World History I80%+10 vs state

Geometry74%~ state avg

Earth Science68%+4 vs state

World History II44%+4 vs state

VA and US History26%-11 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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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

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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 Chemistry (2026)			SOL Biology (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)				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 6th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 12th 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 Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Algebra II 12th 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 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 Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th Grade	SOL Geography 12th 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	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%)	67.8	99^th of 331 public high schools	70.1%		59.7	150^th of 328 public high schools	54.3%	51		401.0	86.3	88.0			88.7	15.4	360.0	≥ 50%	87.4	65.0	405.0	90.0	100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	93.3	66.4	400.0	63.2	70.0	71.1	52.9	63.6		436.0	93.6	72.4				< 50%		382.0	25.9	384.0	80.8	69.2	392.0	405.0	< 50%	44.2	382.0		$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%)	40.8	242^nd of 331 public high schools	26.9%		49.3	203^rd of 328 public high schools	38.1%	39		374.0	79.2	83.3			87.5	29.6	354.0	< 50%	82.5	76.5	92.9	100.0	100.0	≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	416.0	374.0	≥ 50%	77.2	49.7	44.4	44.4	50.0	47.2	48.8	54.2	≥ 50%	385.0	85.9	59.6						372.0	23.5	35.9	66.2	38.1	374.0	42.3	< 50%	17.4	< 50%	< 50%	$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%)	70.8	82^nd of 331 public high schools	75.2%		66.8	108^th of 328 public high schools	67.1%	26	≥ 50%	373.0	84.7	60.0			94.4	50.0	371.0	< 50%	93.3	70.1	61.9	399.0	100.0	486.0	≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		95.0	75.8	64.1	71.4	93.8	66.7	52.9	418.0	≥ 50%	68.4	91.0	75.7	100.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			371.0	48.5	50.0	87.2	53.3	401.0	482.0		41.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	$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%)	52	189^th of 331 public high schools	42.9%		47	215^th of 328 public high schools	34.5%	26		54.6	63.6	88.7			90.2	57.1	368.0	≥ 50%	74.4	72.2	437.0	94.4	94.4	≥ 50%						88.1	79.3	75.9	88.9		≥ 50%	< 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	63.6	78.9	84.6					< 50%	≥ 50%	386.0	< 50%	80.8	83.3	70.7	94.3		≥ 50%	< 50%		$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%)	39.5	247^th of 331 public high schools	25.4%		42.4	240^th of 328 public high schools	26.8%	7		339.0	72.3	87.9			66.0	20.0	361.0	< 50%	79.4	419.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	94.4	< 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%				76.7	57.6	91.7	399.0	≥ 50%	381.0	388.0	≥ 50%		372.0	86.0	87.5					< 50%	369.0	16.3	403.0	69.2	424.0	84.6	≥ 50%	< 50%	9.7			$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%)	80.4	20^th of 331 public high schools	94.0%		73	72^nd of 328 public high schools	78.0%	52		402.0	78.5	96.9		≥ 50%	93.6	86.4	436.0	≥ 50%	86.4	95.2	455.0	100.0	95.2	428.0	< 50%	≥ 50%				98.0	95.3	96.3	86.7		≥ 50%		≥ 50%		493.0	97.2	100.0		≥ 50%		≥ 50%					93.9	100.0	100.0	487.0	≥ 50%	< 50%			$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%)	54.6	180^th of 331 public high schools	45.6%		61.4	133^rd of 328 public high schools	59.5%	47		370.0	79.4	52.6			90.9	386.0	375.0	< 50%	84.5	65.6	402.0	417.0	94.3		≥ 50%			< 50%		93.8	67.9	52.9	88.9	455.0	384.0	≥ 50%	< 50%		≥ 50%	86.5	62.5	92.7	≥ 50%				< 50%	22.4	50.0	73.0	64.9	388.0	90.0		376.0	< 50%		$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%)	58.5	154^th of 331 public high schools	53.5%		52.3	185^th of 328 public high schools	43.6%	31		390.0	85.7	≥ 50%	≥ 50%		98.9	72.7	≥ 50%		79.0	84.0	436.0	≥ 50%	453.0	≥ 50%	391.0	≥ 50%		429.0	< 50%	76.7	61.0	424.0	≥ 50%	< 50%	397.0	424.0	422.0		66.7	90.8	100.0					< 50%	367.0	66.7	390.0	80.4	47.6	< 50%	434.0		55.6	401.0	≥ 50%	$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%)	46.7	216^th of 331 public high schools	34.7%		42.3	241^st of 328 public high schools	26.5%	25		361.0	60.7	69.3			91.4	380.0	≥ 50%	< 50%	73.4	81.3	468.0	83.3	83.3	< 50%	465.0	< 50%	< 50%	405.0		87.9	71.9	72.2	90.7				≥ 50%	≥ 50%	60.0	85.0	88.1						≥ 50%	386.0		72.6	79.3	78.6	100.0	< 50%	356.0			$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%)	71.6	78^th of 331 public high schools	76.4%		75.9	50^th of 328 public high schools	84.8%	28	< 50%	< 50%	82.2	≥ 50%			94.6		≥ 50%		92.6	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%						92.4	75.0	≥ 50%		< 50%	373.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%		88.4	423.0						< 50%	402.0		94.0	66.7		≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%			$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 99^th of 331 Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 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!

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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.