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John B. Dey Elementary

Q: Is John B. Dey Elementary a good school?

John B. Dey Elementary ranks 161 st of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

161^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

John B. Dey Elementary in Virginia Beach, VA, serves 744 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 in the city's northern Great Neck Road area, and it has earned a reputation as one of the region's strongest elementary schools. A member of Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Dey has posted 5-star ratings for most of the past decade. However, the school slipped to 161st out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (86th percentile, 4 stars) in the most recent ranking cycle, down from 65th in each of the prior two years.

Dey continues to outperform district and state averages on SOL tests in every subject and grade, with proficiency rates ranging from roughly 77% in 5th-grade science to nearly 90% in 4th-grade math and reading. About 21% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 4.2% is well below the district's 10.1% and the state's 14.8% — and a dramatic improvement from 12.6% two years earlier. Compared with nearby top performers, Dey holds its own in reading and math against Trantwood Elementary, Kingston Elementary, and Thoroughgood Elementary, though it trails those schools in 5th-grade science (76.6%) and Virginia Studies (88.4% versus 92-97%). Spending per student is $13,717, with a student-teacher ratio of 17.8.

Despite these strengths, Dey shows uneven results across student groups. Female students ranked in the 76th percentile statewide in 2025-2026, down sharply from the 93rd percentile in each of the prior two years, while male students held steady at the 93rd percentile. Students with disabilities ranked in just the 33rd percentile in 2022-2023, and military-connected students ranked in the 43rd percentile in 2025-2026. These gaps, along with recent declines in 5th-grade math proficiency (98.3% to 89.5%) and reading (95.6% to 87.8%), highlight areas where targeted support could help Dey regain its elite standing.

744

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,717

Per pupil spending ?

20.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1900 N Great Neck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454

(757) 648-2440

District: Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Students who attend John B. Dey Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Great Neck Middle
High:	Frank W. Cox High

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.9%

Hispanic:

7.9%

Two or more races:

7.7%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare John B. Dey Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 89th percentile in 2016 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (86% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school86%

District avg77%

Virginia avg72%

161^st of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 11% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 53Elementary Schools in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools

29^th of 131Virginia Beach 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	82.8	161 of 1111	85.5%	★★★★☆
2025	89.1	65 of 1110	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	88.3	65 of 1114	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	87.4	86 of 1114	92.3%	★★★★★
2022	87.1	99 of 1109	91.1%	★★★★★
2021	90.4	67 of 1103	93.9%	★★★★★
2019	87.5	47 of 1105	95.7%	★★★★★
2018	83.8	104 of 1097	90.5%	★★★★★
2017	87.8	56 of 1099	94.9%	★★★★★
2016	82.3	117 of 1096	89.3%	★★★★☆
2015	84.1	85 of 1100	92.3%	★★★★★
2014	86.7	68 of 1110	93.9%	★★★★★
2013	90.5	25 of 1120	97.8%	★★★★★
2012	86.7	37 of 1117	96.7%	★★★★★
2011	83.7	65 of 1117	94.2%	★★★★★
2010	79.2	108 of 1113	90.3%	★★★★★
2009	81.3	84 of 1082	92.2%	★★★★★
2008	84.8	39 of 1081	96.4%	★★★★★
2007	83.4	73 of 1083	93.3%	★★★★★
2006	87.6	22 of 1071	97.9%	★★★★★
2005	83.3	81 of 1062	92.4%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	45.7	217 of 324	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	74.8	267 of 1100	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	87.0	80 of 1096	92.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.0	76 of 1098	93.1%	★★★★★
2023	86.2	88 of 1100	92.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	88.5	35 of 606	94.2%	★★★★★
2024	62.3	213 of 580	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	94.6	11 of 564	98.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	234 of 1040	77.5%	★★★★☆
2025	85.5	76 of 1046	92.7%	★★★★★
2024	82.9	86 of 1036	91.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	86.5	79 of 1099	92.8%	★★★★★
2025	88.8	55 of 1093	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	87.2	73 of 1101	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	85.9	93 of 1093	91.5%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	50.9	118 of 206	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.2	87 of 192	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.0	99 of 195	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.6	80 of 182	56.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	74.2	211 of 974	78.3%	★★★★☆
2025	80.5	111 of 973	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	85.0	55 of 979	94.4%	★★★★★
2023	79.9	116 of 984	88.2%	★★★★☆

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 (2025)94th percentile~ school

Male (2026)93rd percentile+7 vs school

White (2026)78th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2026)76th percentile-10 vs school

Military Connected (2026)43rd percentile-43 vs school

Disabled (2023)33rd percentile-59 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies88%+14 vs state

Mathematics88%+15 vs state

English Reading88%+16 vs state

Science77%+8 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, November 24, 2015

wonderful teachers, fantastic community. Close Quote

Schools Near John B. Dey 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 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
John B. Dey Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1900 N Great Neck Road	Virginia Beach	23454	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2440	744	42	17.8	20.8%	565 (75.9%)	36 (4.8%)	59 (7.9%)	23 (3.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	57 (7.7%)	82.8	161^st of 1111 public elementary schools	85.5%		89.1	65^th of 1110 public elementary schools	94.1%	96	85.7	88.4	89.5	76.6	84.6	89.7	87.8	88.4	$13,717	$967	$12,750
Alanton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1441 Stephens Rd	Virginia Beach	23454	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2000	632	43	14.8	67.4%	338 (53.5%)	137 (21.7%)	79 (12.5%)	7 (1.1%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	67 (10.6%)	81.9	175^th of 1111 public elementary schools	84.2%		82	183^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	83.5%	8	89.2	87.1	87.5	81.3	90.0	82.0	85.6	86.1	$15,255	$1,527	$13,728
Trantwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2344 Inlynnview Rd	Virginia Beach	23454	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-4000	561	36	15.4	23.2%	380 (67.7%)	46 (8.2%)	59 (10.5%)	18 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (10.3%)	88.5	65^th of 1111 public elementary schools	94.1%		88.8	67^th of 1110 public elementary schools	94.0%	2	91.1	95.3	89.9	78.9	85.6	94.1	95.5	96.6	$14,796	$1,008	$13,788
Kingston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3532 Kings Grant Rd	Virginia Beach	23452	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2840	518	33	15.6	10.8%	404 (78.0%)	14 (2.7%)	34 (6.6%)	13 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (10.2%)	88.2	69^th of 1111 public elementary schools	93.8%		90	51^st of 1110 public elementary schools	95.4%	18	92.5	90.9	91.4	87.3	80.7	97.4	90.1	92.4	$14,466	$1,192	$13,275
Linkhorn Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	977 First Colonial Rd	Virginia Beach	23454	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2920	514	39	13.2	68.5%	272 (52.9%)	108 (21.0%)	77 (15.0%)	8 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (9.1%)	78.3	225^th of 1111 public elementary schools	79.7%		73.5	301^st of 1110 public elementary schools	72.9%	76	84.7	75.0	92.2	76.6	84.7	85.5	88.3	86.3	$15,673	$1,206	$14,468
King's Grant Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	612 N Lynnhaven Rd	Virginia Beach	23452	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2800	475	34	13.8	83.2%	265 (55.8%)	89 (18.7%)	59 (12.4%)	13 (2.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (9.7%)	64	427^th of 1111 public elementary schools	61.6%		67.7	379^th of 1110 public elementary schools	65.9%	48	77.3	84.4	78.7	71.6	74.7	80.5	77.3	71.4	$16,793	$1,392	$15,401
Thoroughgood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1444 Dunstan Lane	Virginia Beach	23455	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-3920	767	42	18.4	18.4%	543 (70.8%)	40 (5.2%)	66 (8.6%)	42 (5.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	74 (9.6%)	88.6	63^rd of 1111 public elementary schools	94.3%		86.7	91^st of 1110 public elementary schools	91.8%	28	90.9	91.1	93.6	85.5	84.2	91.9	92.3	93.0	$12,759	$792	$11,967
Malibu Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3632 Edinburgh Dr	Virginia Beach	23452	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-3040	398	31	12.9	68.1%	212 (53.3%)	74 (18.6%)	63 (15.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	42 (10.6%)	56.3	535^th of 1111 public elementary schools	51.8%		36.9	748^th of 1110 public elementary schools	32.6%	213	80.9	74.6	63.2	68.4	72.3	84.8	80.7	66.1	$16,411	$1,911	$14,500
Pembroke Meadows Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Cathedral Dr	Virginia Beach	23455	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-3360	485	35	13.9	68.7%	222 (45.8%)	111 (22.9%)	74 (15.3%)	15 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	61 (12.6%)	74.3	286^th of 1111 public elementary schools	74.3%		75.5	279^th of 1110 public elementary schools	74.9%	7	75.3	83.1	85.7	81.8	73.2	84.5	84.4	89.6	$15,016	$1,153	$13,863
Hermitage Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1701 Pleasure House Road	Virginia Beach	23455	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2600	552	35	15.8	42.8%	276 (50.0%)	91 (16.5%)	114 (20.7%)	9 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (11.1%)	59	492^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	55.7%		58.3	502^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	54.8%	10	88.6	68.6	72.0	68.8	82.0	72.1	73.9	74.4	$14,462	$1,211	$13,250

Frequently Asked Questions about John B. Dey Elementary

What district is John B. Dey Elementary in?

Virginia Beach City Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of John B. Dey Elementary?

Students at John B. Dey Elementary are 76% White, 8% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 5% African American, 3% Asian.

How many students attend John B. Dey Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 744 students attended John B. Dey Elementary.

Is John B. Dey Elementary a good school?

John B. Dey Elementary ranks 161^st of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of John B. Dey Elementary attend?

Students who attend John B. Dey Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Great Neck Middle
High : Frank W. Cox High

Rate John B. Dey 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.