Total enrollment
26,807
-892 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Norfolk city
Virginia · Public K-12
Norfolk city in Virginia is home to 54 public K-12 schools, serving roughly 26,807 students between them, broken out as 41 elementary, 6 middle, and 5 high. Norfolk City Public Schools is the largest district by enrollment.
4-year change in Norfolk city
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
44
-1 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Norfolk city ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Virginia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 57.4% | #105 of 115 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 26,807 | #10 of 118 | #378 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 44 | #9 of 118 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.5:1 | #56 of 118 | #1,134 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 98.0% | #12 of 107 | #154 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 62.6% | #36 of 115 | #440 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Norfolk city school rankings
Residents
233,596
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
54
5 districts
Enrollment
26,807
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$66,109
Below Virginia avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.0%
Above Virginia avg
Elementary
41
14,342 students
Middle
6
5,176 students
High
5
7,289 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Norfolk City Public Schools
26,807 students · 5 districts in Norfolk city
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Norfolk city residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
33.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.7%
civilian labor
Median age
33
20.3% under 18
Test scores in Norfolk city
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 40 schools ranked. Virginia state average: 74.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Academy for Discovery at Lakewood· 91.0%
- Larchmont Elementary· 87.0%
- Matthew Fontaine Maury High· 84.0%
- Ghent K-8· 80.0%
- Granby High· 78.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Jacox Elementary· 36.0%
- Ruffner School· 38.0%
- Chesterfield Elementary· 42.0%
- Norview Middle· 44.0%
- Southside STEM Academy at Campostella· 50.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granby High | Norfolk | High | 09-12 | 1,980 | · |
| Matthew Fontaine Maury High | Norfolk | High | 09-12 | 1,713 | · |
| Norview High | Norfolk | High | 09-12 | 1,585 | · |
| Norview Middle | Norfolk | Middle | 06-08 | 1,196 | · |
| Blair Middle | Norfolk | Middle | 06-08 | 1,141 | · |
| Lake Taylor High | Norfolk | High | 09-12 | 1,107 | · |
| Booker T Washington High | Norfolk | High | 09-12 | 904 | · |
| Azalea Gardens Middle | Norfolk | Middle | 06-08 | 792 | · |
| Crossroads PreK-8 School | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-08 | 790 | · |
| Academy for Discovery at Lakewood | Norfolk | Middle | 03-08 | 739 | · |
| Northside Middle | Norfolk | Middle | 06-08 | 732 | · |
| Southside STEM Academy at Campostella | Norfolk | Elementary | KG-08 | 686 | · |
| Lake Taylor | Norfolk | Elementary | KG-08 | 664 | · |
| Jacox Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 596 | · |
| Larrymore Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 584 | · |
| Little Creek Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 583 | · |
| Ruffner School | Norfolk | Middle | 03-08 | 576 | · |
| Ingleside Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 574 | · |
| Coleman Place Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 551 | · |
| Tanners Creek Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 517 | · |
| Ocean View Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | KG-05 | 512 | · |
| Ghent K-8 | Norfolk | Elementary | KG-08 | 501 | · |
| Bay View Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 500 | · |
| Sewells Point Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 495 | · |
| Richard Bowling Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 492 | · |
| Granby Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 464 | · |
| Larchmont Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 455 | · |
| Willard Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 441 | · |
| Suburban Park Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 415 | · |
| Norview Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 412 | · |
| Sherwood Forest Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 406 | · |
| Camp Allen Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 405 | · |
| Mary Calcott Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 404 | · |
| Walter Herron Taylor Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 403 | · |
| Oceanair Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 400 | · |
| Chesterfield Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 325 | · |
| James Monroe Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 299 | · |
| Tarrallton Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 286 | · |
| Lindenwood Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 243 | · |
| P.B. Young Sr. Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-02 | 241 | · |
| St. Helena Elementary | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-05 | 229 | · |
| Willoughby Early Childhood Center | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-PK | 181 | · |
| Berkley/Campostella Early Childhood Education Center | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-PK | 165 | · |
| Easton Preschool at Fairlawn | Norfolk | Elementary | PK-PK | 123 | · |
| Governor's School for the Arts | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Kings Daughters Hosp. Ep. | Norfolk | Combined | PK-12 | · | · |
| Madison Alternative Center | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Norfolk Alternative High | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Norfolk Alternative Middle | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Norfolk Technical Center | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| The Academy of International Studies at Rosemont | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
| Tidewater Park Elementary | Norfolk | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Tidewater Regional Alternative Ed Project | Norfolk | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
Cities in Norfolk city
About Norfolk city
Across the moderately sized Virginia county of Norfolk city of about 233,596 residents, the public-school footprint covers 54 schools and about 26,807 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $66,109 a year, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 14% below the Virginia median.
For a sense of the school types, Norfolk city comprises 41 elementary schools (14,342 students), 6 middle schools (5,176), 5 high schools (7,289), and 2 combined or other schools.
Norfolk City Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 26,807 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Norfolk city has declined 3% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 27,699 students to 26,807. Over that span, Norfolk city closed 1 school, going from 45 to 44.
On allk12, the community for Norfolk city discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data