Portsmouth City Public Schools School District
School District · Portsmouth, Virginia
Avg Rating
3.9
out of 10
Schools
22
13 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,888
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Avg Rating
3.9
out of 10
Schools
22
13 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,888
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Evaluating Portsmouth City Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Portsmouth City Public Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Churchland High
Portsmouth · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Churchland Elementary
Portsmouth · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
I.c. Norcom High
Portsmouth · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Virginia rank
#126 of 131
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-2.3
below Virginia avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,888
$181 vs Virginia median
District size
13,161 students
Much larger than Virginia median
The short answer
Portsmouth City Public Schools ranks #126 of 131 Virginia districts by overall school rating. Portsmouth City Public Schools's schools with real test data average 4.0/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Churchland High (6.8/10), Churchland Elementary (5.7/10), and I.c. Norcom High (5.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.8/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Portsmouth City Public Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Portsmouth City Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Churchland High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Churchland Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 3 | I.c. Norcom High | 5.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Manor High | 5.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Churchland Middle | 5.3 / 10 |
| 6 | William E. Waters Middle | 5.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Churchland Academy Elementary | 4.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Churchland Primary & Intermediate | 4.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Simonsdale Elementary | 4.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Park View Elementary | 4.0 / 10 |
See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Portsmouth City Public Schools
Portsmouth City Public Schools is a Portsmouth, Virginia school district serving 22 schools. The district educates 13,161 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1. The district invests $14,888 per student annually.
With an average rating of 3.9/10, Portsmouth City Public Schools has schools with varying levels of academic achievement.
The highest-rated school in the district is Churchland High, which has a composite score of 6.8/10.
In standardized testing, Portsmouth City Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 61.9% and ELA proficiency of 67.0%.
The district includes 13 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Portsmouth City Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Portsmouth City Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Portsmouth City Public Schools
22 schools Elementary Schools 13
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 3
District Details
- State
- Virginia
- City
- Portsmouth
- Total Enrollment
- 13,161
- Teachers (FTE)
- 923
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Portsmouth City Public Schools?
Portsmouth City Public Schools has 22 schools in total — 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Portsmouth City Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Portsmouth City Public Schools is 3.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Portsmouth City Public Schools?
Portsmouth City Public Schools spends $14,888 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Portsmouth City Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Portsmouth City Public Schools is 14.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Portsmouth City Public Schools?
Churchland High is the highest-rated school in Portsmouth City Public Schools with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What are the test scores in Portsmouth City Public Schools?
Across schools in Portsmouth City Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 61.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 67.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Portsmouth City Public Schools compare to other districts in Virginia?
Portsmouth City Public Schools has an average school rating of 3.9/10 across 22 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Virginia by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 3.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 61.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 67.0%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in VA
Compare Portsmouth City Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Fairfax County Public Schools (223)
- Loudoun County Public Schools (100)
- Prince William County Public Schools (99)
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools (88)
- Henrico County Public Schools (81)
- Chesterfield County Public Schools (73)
- Richmond City Public Schools (54)
- Norfolk City Public Schools (49)
- Chesapeake City Public Schools (48)
- Newport News City Public Schools (43)
- Arlington County Public Schools (42)
- Spotsylvania County Public Schools (34)
- Stafford County Public Schools (34)
- Hampton City Public Schools (33)
- Roanoke County Public Schools (29)
- Roanoke City Public Schools (26)
- Albemarle County Public Schools (25)
- Hanover County Public Schools (25)
- Rockingham County Public Schools (23)
- Bedford County Public Schools (22)
- Suffolk City Public Schools (22)
- Montgomery County Public Schools (21)
- Pittsylvania County Public Schools (21)
- Lynchburg City Public Schools (20)
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.
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