Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 23320

Zip code 23320 in Chesapeake, Virginia is home to two public middle schools—Greenbrier Middle and Crestwood Middle—both serving grades 6–8 under Chesapeake City Public Schools, a district ranked 34th out of 131 Virginia school divisions with a 4-star rating. The schools serve remarkably similar student populations, with approximately 73% of students at each school eligible for free or reduced lunch. Despite these similarities, the two schools present very different academic profiles, making school choice particularly meaningful for families in this area.

Greenbrier Middle is the clear standout in this zip code. It has ranked in the 78th percentile statewide for three consecutive years (92nd, 94th, and 92nd out of roughly 416 schools) and earned a 4-star rating each year. Greenbrier Middle outperforms its district and the state in nearly every regular SOL subject, with an average non-advanced proficiency rate of 75.1% compared to 62.7% at Crestwood Middle. Reading proficiency at Greenbrier Middle exceeds state averages by 5–7 points at every grade level, and it posts perfect or near-perfect proficiency in Algebra I and Geometry. Crestwood Middle, by contrast, ranks in the 39th percentile (255th of 416 schools) with a 2-star rating. While Crestwood Middle has improved—its rank rose from 319th in 2024–2025 to 255th in 2025–2026—its proficiency levels remain well below Greenbrier Middle and often below state averages.

Resource differences are striking: Greenbrier Middle spends $17,275 per student versus $11,726 at Crestwood Middle, a 47% gap, even though Crestwood Middle has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (10.5 vs. 11.8). Chronic absenteeism also aligns with performance—Greenbrier Middle's rate is 10.5% while Crestwood Middle's is 14.8%. Both schools show a concerning decline in on-grade-level math proficiency from 6th to 8th grade, though advanced math courses show near-perfect proficiency, suggesting only a select group of students reaches those courses. Ultimately, these two schools in the same district and zip code demonstrate how school-level factors such as resources, leadership, and climate can shape outcomes even among schools with nearly identical poverty levels.