Best Schools in Suffolk, Virginia
21 schools · 11 Elementary · 5 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Suffolk?
Use this page to compare every school in Suffolk by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
John Yeates Middle
Middle · Suffolk City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Oakland Elementary
Elementary · Suffolk City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Nansemond River High
High · Suffolk City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Suffolk for 2026 are John Yeates Middle (8.2/10), Oakland Elementary (7.2/10), and Nansemond River High (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 21 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
21
19 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$318,467
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
21
19 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$318,467
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Suffolk
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (21 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Yeates Middle | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Oakland Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Nansemond River High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | King's Fork High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Northern Shores Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Nansemond Parkway Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Southwestern Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Lakeland High | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Kilby Shores Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Suffolk Christian Academy | 5.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $86,048
- Median home value
- $318,467
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 30%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
14% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Suffolk compares
Virginia rank
#130 of 182
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Virginia avg (6.2)
Median household income
$86k
98% of Virginia median
Schools in this city
21
About Schools in Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk's public school system spans 19 ranked schools, averaging 6.0 out of 10. The distribution matters more than the mean: 4 schools — 21% of the ranked total — clear the 7-point threshold, and those four are spread across grade levels, giving families a meaningful upper tier to target at each stage of their child's education.
The city's top-rated school is John Yeates Middle at 7.9 out of 10. Oakland Elementary follows at 7.8, making it one of Suffolk's strongest options for families starting their search at the elementary level. Florence Bowser Elementary (7.3) rounds out the upper tier for younger grades. King's Fork High (7.1) is the city's top-performing high school, giving families a clear secondary-level target. All four schools outpace the 6.0 citywide average by a full point or more.
The middle school picture is particularly strong relative to the citywide profile. John Yeates (7.9) and Colonel Fred Cherry Middle (6.9) both sit above the city average, meaning students leaving a top elementary have a solid upward pathway. The roughly 2-point gap between Suffolk's best and its overall average signals real variation — where a child is assigned matters here.
For parents doing the research: prioritize elementary placement early. Oakland Elementary and Florence Bowser Elementary outperform the city average by a significant margin, and strong elementary placement tends to open paths to higher-performing middle school tracks. Families zoned for King's Fork High can expect above-average performance at the secondary level. Parents outside these attendance zones should weigh any available school-choice options carefully — Suffolk's 6.0 average masks meaningful performance gaps between its highest- and lower-rated schools.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 483 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 837 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 448 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 609 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
| 5 | 460 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 6 | 874 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 7 | 747 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 644 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.3 |
| 9 | 704 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.3 |
| 10 | 739 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.9 |
Show all 11 elementary schools in Suffolk
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 517 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 444 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
| 3 | 728 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 4 | 546 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 5 | 984 students · 6th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,681 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 1,666 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 1,067 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suffolk Christian Academy
Private
242 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Nansemond-suffolk Academy
Private
778 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.4 |
Schools in Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$86,048
Median Home Value
$318,467
Median Rent
$1,360/mo
Population
91,045
College Educated
30%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Community Profile
Suffolk has a median household income of $86,048. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $318,467, with a median rent of $1,360/month. The local poverty rate of 8.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Virginia
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 3
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Virginia
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Suffolk, Virginia
How many schools are in Suffolk, Virginia?
Suffolk has 21 schools, including 19 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Suffolk, Virginia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Suffolk is 5.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Suffolk, Virginia?
The top-ranked school in Suffolk on MySchoolScout is John Yeates Middle with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Suffolk, Virginia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Suffolk on MySchoolScout is Oakland Elementary with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Suffolk, Virginia?
The top-ranked middle school in Suffolk on MySchoolScout is John Yeates Middle with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Suffolk, Virginia?
The top-ranked high school in Suffolk on MySchoolScout is Nansemond River High with a composite score of 7.1/10.
How many school districts serve Suffolk, Virginia?
Suffolk is served by 1 school district: Suffolk City Public Schools.
What is the education level in Suffolk, Virginia?
According to Census data, 30% of adults in Suffolk have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Suffolk, Virginia?
The median household income in Suffolk is approximately $86,048 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Suffolk, Virginia?
Yes, Suffolk has 2 private schools alongside 19 public schools. The top-rated private school is Suffolk Christian Academy with a score of 5.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Suffolk, Virginia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Suffolk is 15.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Suffolk, Virginia?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Virginia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.