Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 23608

Zip code 23608 contains two middle schools—Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle and Mary Passage Middle—both serving grades 6–8 in Newport News City Public Schools, a district ranked 105 out of 131 in Virginia. Together these schools serve about 1,919 students, and both operate with very high poverty levels, where roughly 98% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. While both schools remain below the Virginia state average in most subjects, they are highly comparable in size, funding, and demographics, making their performance differences especially meaningful for parents.

Mary Passage Middle is the clear academic standout. It holds the higher 2025–2026 state rank (342 of 416, up from 372 two years earlier) and beats Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle in 8 of 11 SOL test categories, with an average proficiency of 65.4% versus Ella's 62.8%. Mary Passage improved in 9 of 11 subjects from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, including a dramatic leap in 8th-grade Geometry from 80% to 96.8%. Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle, however, is stronger on attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of 15.2% compared to Mary Passage's 20.0%. Ella also posted large gains in 6th-grade math and reading, though sharp declines in 7th- and 8th-grade math made its overall trend less consistent.

Both schools share one striking pattern: advanced math is a strength while grade-level math is a serious concern. Nearly all students in 7th-grade Algebra I score proficient (97.8% at Ella, 100% at Mary Passage), and 8th-grade Geometry scores are above 96% at both schools. Yet only about one-third of students are proficient in standard 7th- and 8th-grade math. Mary Passage beats the district average in 10 of 11 test categories, while Ella beats it in 5. Spending is nearly identical, so funding doesn't explain the differences. For parents, the bottom line is that Mary Passage offers the strongest overall academics and momentum, while Ella provides better attendance and promising 6th-grade gains. Improving grade-level math is the most urgent priority for both schools.