Best Public Schools in Zip Code 23504

The 23504 zip code area of Norfolk, Virginia is home to 6 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school, all part of the Norfolk City Public Schools district. While the district as a whole is ranked 109 out of 129 school districts in Virginia and rated 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger, a few schools in this area stand out.

Lindenwood Elementary is the highest-ranked school in the group, ranked 919 out of 1,110 Virginia elementary schools and rated 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. The school has strong performance on SOL (Standards of Learning) tests, with 3rd-5th grade proficiency rates often exceeding the district and state averages. In contrast, the middle school (Ruffner School) and high school (Booker T. Washington High) generally perform worse than the elementary schools, with lower proficiency rates on SOL tests.

Across the schools, there are significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates (15.7%), very high free/reduced lunch rates (ranging from 92.59% to 102.48%), and persistent achievement gaps compared to district and state averages. While some schools, like Booker T. Washington High, show improvement in their SOL test scores over time, others exhibit inconsistent or declining performance. Addressing these issues will likely require a multifaceted approach targeting both academic and socioeconomic factors.