Summary:
Zip code 23320 in Chesapeake, Virginia is served by five public schools — two elementary, two middle, and one high school — all part of the 4-star Chesapeake City Public Schools district, which ranks 34th out of 131 districts in Virginia. All five schools serve a similar high-poverty population, with free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from 71.4% at Oscar F. Smith High to 73.9% at Greenbrier Middle. This economic similarity makes the differences in academic performance across the schools especially notable.
The standout school in the zip code is Greenbrier Middle, which ranks in the 78th percentile of Virginia middle schools with a 4-star rating. Despite serving the highest poverty rate in the area at 73.9%, it posts 100% proficiency in Geometry and Algebra I and exceeds district and state averages in nearly every subject. In contrast, Crestwood Middle is the weakest performer, ranking in the 39th percentile despite having nearly identical demographics and the lowest student-teacher ratio in the area at 10.5. Oscar F. Smith High, the area's only high school, ranks in the 41st percentile but has been steadily improving over three years. Greenbrier Intermediate ranks in the 55th percentile but has been gradually declining, while Greenbrier Primary serves PK-2 with no test data but healthy attendance.
Several key takeaways emerge for parents. First, spending does not correlate with outcomes: Greenbrier Middle spends $17,275 per student, while Greenbrier Intermediate spends the least at $10,292 yet still produces decent results. Second, chronic absenteeism is a telling indicator — Oscar F. Smith High has the highest rate at 20.2% and the lowest graduation rate at 88%, while Greenbrier Intermediate has the lowest rate at 8.2% and shows moderate success. Finally, Oscar F. Smith High has a notable gap between first-time Algebra I test-takers (88.5% proficient in 9th grade) and upperclassmen retakers (50-60%), suggesting a vulnerable subgroup that needs attention.
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