Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 23325

Elementary schools in zip code 23325, located in Chesapeake, VA, serve 1,511 students across three schools—Georgetown Primary (grades PK–3), Sparrow Road Intermediate (grades 4–5), and Norfolk Highlands Primary (grades PK–3)—all part of Chesapeake City Public Schools, a district ranked in the top quarter of Virginia divisions. All three schools serve high-poverty communities, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility ranging from 72.6% to 73.5%, and chronic absenteeism averaging 13.2%, slightly below the state average of 14.8%.

Performance differs dramatically despite similar poverty levels. Norfolk Highlands Primary stands out as the strongest academic performer, posting 3rd grade math proficiency of 73.8% and reading of 70.5%—both near or above state averages—despite having the highest poverty rate and highest chronic absenteeism (16.4%). It also receives the highest per-student funding ($16,155) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.8). By contrast, Georgetown Primary, the largest school with 804 students, has the lowest spending ($10,504 per student) and highest student-teacher ratio (14.8), and lags well behind district and state averages in both 3rd grade math (65.1%) and reading (56.6%). Sparrow Road Intermediate holds a 1-star state ranking and sits in the bottom quarter of Virginia schools, with 4th and 5th grade SOL scores running 15–20 points below district averages in several subjects.

Notably, Sparrow Road has the lowest chronic absenteeism (8.8%) among the three schools—far better than the district (11.1%) and state (14.8%)—yet remains the lowest-performing school, indicating that attendance alone does not explain achievement gaps. The spending disparity is striking: Norfolk Highlands spends $5,651 more per student than Georgetown, a 54% difference that correlates with stronger outcomes. While Chesapeake City Public Schools earns 4 stars statewide, all three schools fall below district averages in most subjects, suggesting this zip code contains some of the district's more challenging school communities. Norfolk Highlands' 11-point drop in 3rd grade math from 84.6% to 73.8% warrants monitoring, while Sparrow Road showed meaningful improvement in several 5th grade subjects, hinting that interventions may be starting to take hold.