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

Frank W. Cox High

Public Grades 9-12
27th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 331 Virginia High Schools
Better than 92% of Virginia high schools
Summary

Frank W. Cox High is a large public high school in Virginia Beach, VA, serving 1,631 students in grades 9–12 as part of Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Ranked 27th out of 331 Virginia high schools in 2025–2026, Cox has climbed steadily from 82nd a decade ago and now earns a 5-star rating. It is the highest-ranked school in its immediate area, outpacing Salem High (#38), Kempsville High (#59), and First Colonial High (#90), located less than two miles away. Roughly 26% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, making the student body relatively affluent compared with neighboring schools.

Cox's academic reputation is built on standout test scores, especially in STEM. In 2025–2026, 10th-grade Chemistry and Algebra I proficiency each reached 100%, and 9th-grade Biology hit 100%—well above district and state averages. World History II proficiency was 90%, compared with a 36.7% district average. The school also posts striking results for historically underserved groups: English Language Learners rank #2 statewide, and low-income students rank #17 (95th percentile), up from #104 two years earlier. Disabled students improved from #130 to #59. These gains help explain why Cox outperforms demographically similar First Colonial High, even though the two schools sit just 1.5 miles apart.

Still, a few concerns stand out. Cox's graduation rate of 93.8% falls below the district average of 96.8%, and the dropout rate rose to 4.3% in 2024–25, more than double the district's 2.1%. Chronic absenteeism has been cut in half since 2021–22 but remains at 12.4%, above the district's 10.1% and far higher than First Colonial's 5.8%. In 10th-grade English Reading and 9th-grade Geometry, Cox trails district averages. The Asian student subgroup's statewide ranking also fell sharply, from #5 to #89 over two years. Families will find a rigorous, upwardly mobile school with strong equity outcomes, but it's worth asking how the school plans to address graduation support and attendance.

1,631
Students ?
17.9
Student/teacher ratio ?
$13,932
Per pupil spending ?
26.2%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 2425 Shorehaven Dr
       Virginia Beach, VA  23454-1749

(757) 648-5250

District: Virginia Beach City Public Schools


Feeder schools for Frank W. Cox High:

Elementary:    John B. Dey Elementary
    Linkhorn Park Elementary
    Trantwood Elementary
Middle:    Great Neck Middle
Racial breakdown:

White:
64.6%
African American:
12.3%
Hispanic:
11.7%
more
 See top rated Virginia high schools

 Compare Frank W. Cox High to nearby high schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Improving — 74th percentile in 2016 → 92nd in 2026
Strengths
Test scores above the Virginia average (92% vs 77% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 8% of Virginia high schools
Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school92%
District avg86%
Virginia avg77%
27th of 331
Virginia public high schools ?
Top 8%▲ up 17 pts since 2016
From top 26% (2016) to top 8% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
2nd of 12High Schools in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools
29th 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202679.927 of 33191.8%★★★★★
202577.142 of 32887.2%★★★★☆
202472.169 of 32979.0%★★★★☆
202375.250 of 32684.7%★★★★☆
202271.140 of 32587.7%★★★★☆
202166.448 of 32785.3%★★★★☆
201970.638 of 32788.4%★★★★☆
201863.574 of 32677.3%★★★★☆
201764.671 of 32478.1%★★★★☆
201662.382 of 32174.5%★★★★☆
201562.977 of 32276.1%★★★★☆
201450.0146 of 32254.7%★★★☆☆
201354.4120 of 32162.6%★★★☆☆
201256.6110 of 32165.7%★★★☆☆
201164.673 of 32077.2%★★★★☆
201064.075 of 31776.3%★★★★☆
200966.154 of 31382.7%★★★★☆
200863.869 of 31678.2%★★★★☆
200773.523 of 31392.7%★★★★★
200664.362 of 31480.3%★★★★☆
200571.728 of 30890.9%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202668.358 of 24276.0%★★★★☆
202555.5112 of 24554.3%★★★☆☆
202451.8131 of 24947.4%★★☆☆☆
202356.798 of 24059.2%★★★☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202637.289 of 12025.8%★☆☆☆☆
202570.730 of 12576.0%★★★★☆
202484.05 of 11895.8%★★★★★
202347.184 of 12030.0%★★☆☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202668.559 of 25276.6%★★★★☆
202450.6130 of 25348.6%★★☆☆☆
202364.082 of 24967.1%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202692.92 of 13598.5%★★★★★
202496.63 of 12297.5%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202678.034 of 32289.4%★★★★☆
202575.849 of 32184.7%★★★★☆
202472.764 of 32280.1%★★★★☆
202367.491 of 32071.6%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202676.334 of 24286.0%★★★★☆
202582.816 of 23693.2%★★★★★
202468.762 of 23373.4%★★★★☆
202374.641 of 23282.3%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202683.417 of 32194.7%★★★★★
202572.361 of 32481.2%★★★★☆
202463.1104 of 32067.5%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202680.526 of 32592.0%★★★★★
202578.734 of 32289.4%★★★★☆
202471.176 of 32276.4%★★★★☆
202379.232 of 32190.0%★★★★★

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202663.236 of 10565.7%★★★☆☆
202555.751 of 9848.0%★★☆☆☆
202448.453 of 9242.4%★★☆☆☆
202364.826 of 9271.7%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202676.125 of 19687.2%★★★★☆
202572.045 of 19877.3%★★★★☆
202456.788 of 19855.6%★★★☆☆
202358.980 of 19358.5%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankVirginia percentileRating
202677.318 of 31294.2%★★★★★
202575.735 of 31388.8%★★★★☆
202469.069 of 31478.0%★★★★☆
202369.262 of 31580.3%★★★★☆
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 (2026)99th percentile+7 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)95th percentile+3 vs school
White (2026)94th percentile~ school
Male (2026)92nd percentile~ school
Female (2026)89th percentile~ school
Multi-racial (2026)87th percentile-5 vs school
Hispanic (2026)86th percentile-6 vs school
Disabled (2026)77th percentile-15 vs school
African American (2026)76th percentile-16 vs school
Military Connected (2026)66th percentile-26 vs school
Asian (2026)26th percentile-66 vs school
By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?
Algebra II97%+8 vs state
Geography97%+26 vs state
World History I96%+26 vs state
Algebra I94%+16 vs state
English Reading94%+9 vs state
Biology92%+15 vs state
World History II90%+50 vs state
Writing90%+14 vs state
Chemistry86%+35 vs state
Geometry81%+5 vs state

3.0
4 ratings · 3 written reviews
52
40
30
20
12
Rate Frank W. Cox 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
Friday, January 24, 2020

Open Quote If you’re not wealthy, white, or abled you’re gonna have a hell of a time. As a kid with physical disabilities, it’s an obvious difference. The students themselves weren’t so bad with me- it was the staff. Of course I missed a lot of school. My days are filled with doctors appointments and treatments several times a month. My teachers made it a point to bully and call me out. Because I move slower I was often late to class, but I had an extra five minutes as accommodation. My teachers would stand in the hall until I was the only straggler (so they clearly saw me) and would proceed to go inside and lock the door so I would have to knock and make a scene. It was humiliating. The nurses regularly attempted to give me the wrong medication belonging to other students. What if I were mentally disabled? What if i didn’t know any better than to check? This could be life threatening to some students. The singular elevator was dangerous and often closed without warning. Again, I’d be late to class, pathetically trying to get my walker up the stairs. The elevator nearly crashed once. Nothing was done despite multiple complaints over years from several people. I was told to do other work, don’t worry about this, only to receive a 0 for following instructions. These are only a few things. OH! Also loved having our lovely security guard YELL at me DAILY and stop me in the halls for being late! Leave earlier he says! I already did! If I left earlier I would miss class time! Maybe if you didn’t stop me everyday I might be on time! Some students were rewarded for calling me slurs a few times... so yeah! Lovely place :) Close Quote


by a student
Friday, April 21, 2017

Open Quote This school is by far the worst school I have ever attended. The school is nothing but a joke to students that have parents that are not upper class. If the student has parents that are upper class but the student has a mental disorder you will be treated like you have parents that are lower or middle class. Students that are middle class or lower class or are part of the minority LGBT whatever it is, this school will find the smallest flaws in you and push you their. They will not take care of bullies, harassment, or anything that is happening to their middle or lower class students. This school uses Kempsville psych unit as a disciplinary tool. When such a place is used a discipline the student comes in contact with mentally unstable patients and patients that could harm the student. This school does not desreve any funding to be honest. They are not a school they are more of a playground and hangout place for the upper class students to hang out and bully the middle and lower class students. This school should be re tested for the place this schools stands in Virginia Beach. Green Run would most likely rank higher than this school and if you do not know what Green Run is, it is a high school that is known for the gangs and drug use in the school. Sad right. But students at Cox High school smoke weed in the schools restrooms. The smell of the burning weed can not lie or be covered easily. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, October 6, 2016

Open Quote Keep in mind that many of the top students in Virginia Beach go to other high schools to enroll in the various Academy Courses offered. Cox High School does not have those programs. So they do the best with the students they have. Close Quote





Schools Near Frank W. Cox High

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private






Frequently Asked Questions about Frank W. Cox High

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,631 students attended Frank W. Cox High.

Yes. Frank W. Cox High ranks in the top 8.2% of Virginia high schools.

Students at Frank W. Cox High are 65% White, 12% African American, 12% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Frank W. Cox High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : John B. Dey Elementary
Elementary : Linkhorn Park Elementary
Elementary : Trantwood Elementary
Middle : Great Neck Middle

Rate Frank W. Cox High!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Frank W. Cox High!


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.

Diagnostics