Summary:
Zip code 23701 in Portsmouth, Virginia is served by only one high school — Manor High — which enrolls 1,149 students in grades 9-12 as part of Portsmouth City Public Schools. The school operates with a favorable 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $10,656, with effectively all students (100.35%) eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Manor High is a school on the rise. Its state rank has climbed from 258th out of 329 Virginia high schools in 2023-2024 to 189th out of 331 in 2025-2026 — a 69-position improvement that moved it from the bottom quarter of schools into the 43rd percentile. This is especially notable given that the district overall ranks in the 13th percentile of Virginia districts, making Manor High a relative bright spot. Academically, seniors lead the way: in 2025-2026, 12th graders scored well above state averages in writing (88.7% vs. 65.0%), biology, English reading, World History I, and Algebra I. World History I is the school's signature strength, with an average proficiency of 86.4% versus 66.2% statewide. Overall, Manor High's average SOL proficiency of 77.8% actually beats the state average of 72.8%, though it trails its district's 81.3%.
However, serious non-academic challenges remain. The graduation rate of 85.9% is below the district (88.5%) and state (92.3%), while the dropout rate of 10.4% is more than double the state's 5.0%. Chronic absenteeism affects 20.4% of students, compared to 14.8% statewide. Algebra II is the clearest academic weakness, with a two-year average proficiency of just 77.2% versus 94.1% statewide. Manor High is a school in transition — showing real academic progress and strong senior performance, but still needing to improve attendance, retention, and graduation outcomes to fully translate test-score gains into long-term student success.
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