Schools in Zip Code 23434

ZIP code 23434 in Suffolk, Virginia is home to 12 public schools within Suffolk City Public Schools, serving approximately 8,570 students across 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools, all in a high-poverty area where free/reduced-price lunch eligibility runs consistently between 67% and 70%. Oakland Elementary is the clear standout in the ZIP code, ranking in the 70th percentile statewide and earning 4 stars, with 5th grade math proficiency near 90% and 3rd grade math at 93% — scores 20 to 30 points above district and state averages, all while serving a student body with the same poverty level as lower-performing nearby schools.

Forest Glen Middle is the strongest middle school, ranking in the 36th percentile, posting near-perfect scores in advanced math courses (93–100% in Algebra I and Geometry), and having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate among middle schools at 18.4%. At the high school level, King's Fork High is the better choice, with a 93.8% graduation rate, a 2.2% dropout rate, and lower chronic absenteeism than Lakeland High, which trails on nearly every outcome despite spending more per student and having a lower student-teacher ratio. Kilby Shores Elementary stands out for attendance, with the only chronic absenteeism rate below the state average.

Several patterns matter for parents. Chronic absenteeism is elevated across the area — Lakeland High sits at 28.6% and John F. Kennedy Middle at 24.8%, likely contributing to weaker outcomes. Social studies is a consistent weakness, with pass rates far below state averages at nearly every school. Middle schools show a two-tier math system: advanced students excel, but on-grade-level math proficiency is low, with some 8th grade scores near 30%. Notably, spending more does not guarantee better results — Booker T. Washington Elementary spends the most per student ($12,312) yet ranks in the 31st percentile. Smaller schools generally outperform larger ones throughout the ZIP code, with Oakland Elementary proving that high achievement is possible under the same economic conditions as lower-performing schools nearby.