Southwestern Elementary

Southwestern Elementary is a moderately sized elementary-level community in Chesapeake, Virginia, operated by Chesapeake City Public Schools. The school teaches 549 students in grades pre-K through 5.

Southwestern Elementary is one of 45 schools operated by Chesapeake City Public Schools, a district that instructs 40,607 students overall.

On demographics, Southwestern Elementary logs that Black students make up the majority at 70%. The remainder consists of 13% White, 11% Hispanic, 6% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 29% Black, putting the school's mix meaningfully more Black than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school lists 40 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 13.6:1. The state averages about 13.8:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Around 74% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is above Chesapeake city's rate of about 49%.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Southwestern Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 67.9%; this one delivers 72.4%.

In the area at large, Chesapeake city reports that median household income runs about $95,373, 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. In all, Chesapeake city runs 50 public schools (combined enrollment of about 40,607 students), of which Southwestern Elementary is one.

Nearest neighbor: Jolliff Middle, around 0.6 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Southwestern Elementary. On composite proficiency, Southwestern Elementary comes 3rd of 8 in the immediate cluster, above the nearby-schools average of 64.0%.

The school occupies an inner-city site.

Over the past 7-year window. Southwestern Elementary's enrollment has edged up 3% since 2018, when it stood at 531 (now 549). The Black share of enrollment fell from 76% to 70% over that span.

Inside the community feed, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.