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Colonel Fred Cherry Middle

Q: Is Colonel Fred Cherry Middle a good school?

Colonel Fred Cherry Middle ranks 190 th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 54% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Colonel Fred Cherry Middle is a public middle school in Suffolk, VA, serving 736 students in grades 6–8 within Suffolk City Public Schools. For the 2025–2026 school year, the school is ranked 190th out of 416 Virginia middle schools, placing it in the 54th percentile with a 3-star rating — a slip from its 4-star, 72nd-percentile ranking in 2022–2023.

The school has several clear strengths. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 9.0%, well below the district rate of 17.6% and the state rate of 14.8%. Math and science scores are strong, with 8th-grade Algebra I at 99% proficiency, Geometry at 100%, and 8th-grade science at 69.4% versus 64.7% statewide. The school is also a standout for English learners, ranking 2nd out of 135 Virginia middle schools for that subgroup.

However, there are areas of concern. 6th-grade reading proficiency sits at 66.4%, below the state average of 73.0%, though students recover by 7th and 8th grade. Low-income students and military-connected students have seen sharp ranking declines in recent years. The school also spends just $7,997 per student — far less than every nearby school, including John Yeates Middle at $10,855, which serves a nearly identical student population just 5.6 miles away and ranks in the 85th percentile. That said, CFCM dramatically outperforms nearby Portsmouth and Norfolk middle schools like Cradock Middle and Ruffner School, making it a relative success story in the region.

736

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,394

Per pupil spending ?

68.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

7401 Burbage Drive
Suffolk, VA 23435

(757) 925-6752

District: Suffolk City Public Schools

Students who attend Colonel Fred Cherry Middle usually attend:

High:

Nansemond River High

Feeder schools for Colonel Fred Cherry Middle:

Elementary:

Northern Shores Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

55.4%

White:

22.4%

Two or more races:

9.5%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Colonel Fred Cherry Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 70th percentile in 2019 → 54th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Virginia median (54th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2019

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg67%

Virginia avg69%

190^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Top 46%▼ down 15 pts since 2019

From top 30% (2019) to top 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Middle 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	56.7	190 of 416	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.3	201 of 419	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.1	147 of 417	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.4	119 of 422	71.8%	★★★★☆
2022	60.9	144 of 415	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.5	155 of 419	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.7	129 of 424	69.6%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	66.7	91 of 297	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.2	99 of 297	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.7	49 of 299	83.6%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	37 of 298	87.6%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	56.3	107 of 292	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.1	112 of 281	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.8	91 of 278	67.3%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	98.4	2 of 135	98.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	65.0	136 of 409	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.9	143 of 403	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.5	114 of 407	72.0%	★★★★☆
2023	69.7	121 of 411	70.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	80.3	34 of 283	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	85.3	20 of 279	92.8%	★★★★★
2024	82.3	23 of 272	91.5%	★★★★★
2023	89.7	11 of 275	96.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	266 of 401	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.3	191 of 403	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.7	111 of 402	72.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	49.0	226 of 410	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.5	226 of 404	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.5	161 of 407	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.7	113 of 409	72.4%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	42.0	90 of 125	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	69.2	30 of 130	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	51.2	64 of 123	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	81.7	9 of 114	92.1%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	53.1	125 of 249	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.1	57 of 244	76.6%	★★★★☆
2024	50.8	116 of 237	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	59 of 231	74.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	60.3	147 of 400	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.8	184 of 400	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.3	67 of 396	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	75.4	62 of 402	84.6%	★★★★☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)99th percentile+46 vs school

Hispanic (2026)88th percentile+34 vs school

African American (2026)69th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile+12 vs school

Disabled (2026)63rd percentile+9 vs school

White (2026)63rd percentile+9 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)50th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)45th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)34th percentile-21 vs school

Military Connected (2026)28th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+3 vs state

Algebra I99%+4 vs state

English Reading73%~ state avg

Civics and Economics73%+3 vs state

Science69%+5 vs state

Mathematics62%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Colonel Fred Cherry 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 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 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
Colonel Fred Cherry Middle	Public	6-8	7401 Burbage Drive	Suffolk	23435	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 925-6752	736	63	11.7	68.8%	165 (22.4%)	408 (55.4%)	69 (9.4%)	20 (2.7%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	70 (9.5%)	56.7	190^th of 416 public middle schools	54.3%		55.3	201^st of 419 public middle schools	52.0%	11		100.0		100.0	99.0				70.0	56.0	57.0		69.4						66.4	74.8	76.4			72.7				$8,394	$203	$8,191
Churchland Middle	Public	7-8	4051 River Shore Rd	Portsmouth	23703	Portsmouth city	Portsmouth City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 686-2512	798	54	14.7	—	122 (15.3%)	555 (69.5%)	56 (7.0%)	3 (0.4%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (6.5%)	24.6	351^st of 416 public middle schools	15.6%		21	365^th of 419 public middle schools	12.9%	14		97.7		96.3	91.3					23.9	23.8		51.2							61.2	63.0				66.5			$12,064	$1,834	$10,230
Western Branch Middle	Public	6-8	4201 Hawksley Dr	Chesapeake	23321	Chesapeake city	Chesapeake City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 638-7920	855	68	12.5	73.3%	321 (37.5%)	319 (37.3%)	84 (9.8%)	36 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	90 (10.5%)	69.1	109^th of 416 public middle schools	73.8%		63.9	150^th of 419 public middle schools	64.2%	41		100.0		100.0	100.0				68.5	65.4	66.0		77.9						79.4	82.5	77.6		67.5					$11,664	$182	$11,481
John Yeates Middle	Public	6-8	4901 Bennetts Pasture Rd	Suffolk	23435	Suffolk city	Suffolk City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 923-4105	509	51	9.9	69.5%	215 (42.2%)	183 (36.0%)	40 (7.9%)	14 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	55 (10.8%)	76.7	61^st of 416 public middle schools	85.3%		71	113^th of 419 public middle schools	73.0%	52		100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	100.0				80.3	50.0	58.2		77.3						78.3	90.6	85.6			88.1				$10,677	$280	$10,398
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
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
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
B.T. Washington Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	3700 Chestnut Ave	Newport News	23607	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 928-6860	413	27	15.7	—	108 (26.2%)	215 (52.1%)	30 (7.3%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (12.3%)	75.7	69^th of 416 public middle schools	83.4%		65.5	141^st of 419 public middle schools	66.3%	72		96.5		100.0	100.0				87.3	48.7	61.1		76.5						89.3	77.5	84.6				85.3			$11,375	$00	$11,375
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Colonel Fred Cherry Middle

What high school do graduates of Colonel Fred Cherry Middle attend?

Students who attend Colonel Fred Cherry Middle usually go on to attend Nansemond River High

How many students attend Colonel Fred Cherry Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 736 students attended Colonel Fred Cherry Middle.

What district is Colonel Fred Cherry Middle in?

Suffolk City Public Schools

Is Colonel Fred Cherry Middle a good school?

Colonel Fred Cherry Middle ranks 190^th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Colonel Fred Cherry Middle?

Students at Colonel Fred Cherry Middle are 55% African American, 22% White, 10% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

Rate Colonel Fred Cherry Middle!

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Schools in Suffolk, VA

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

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