Best High Schools in Zip Code 23322

Zip code 23322 in Chesapeake, Virginia is home to two public high schools — Hickory High and Great Bridge High — both part of Chesapeake City Public Schools and serving roughly 3,091 students in grades 9–12. Both schools report outcomes that compare favorably with Virginia state averages.

Parents comparing the two schools will find distinct strengths. Hickory High is the clear academic standout, ranked 16th out of 331 Virginia high schools with a 5-star rating and exceptional SOL proficiency, including 100% in 9th-grade Algebra II and Geography. Great Bridge High, ranked 71st, is the stronger school on graduation and dropout prevention, with a 97.7% graduation rate and a 0.7% dropout rate — both better than Hickory High's 97.1% and 1.5%. Great Bridge High also spends about $1,810 more per student ($12,899 vs. $11,089) and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio (13.1 vs. 14.3), reflecting a student body with nearly double the low-income rate (20.19% vs. 11.56%).

Both schools beat Virginia state averages for graduation (92.3%), dropout (5.0%), and chronic absenteeism (14.8%). However, Hickory High's chronic absenteeism of 5.0% is dramatically better than Great Bridge High's 12.3%. One striking pattern at both schools is the large gap between 9th- and 10th-grade SOL scores in the same subjects, likely reflecting different student test-taking groups. History is a shared weak point: VA/US History proficiency sits at just 36% at Hickory High and 33.33% at Great Bridge High. Meanwhile, Great Bridge High far outperforms Hickory High on 12th-grade reading (92.31% vs. 69.23%). Overall, this zip code offers a strong high school environment — one school shines on academics and attendance, the other on completion and student support.