Excellent
#28 of 1,851 schools in VA
Top 2% in state
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Middle School · Norfolk City Public Schools · Norfolk, VA
A Norfolk City Public Schools middle school where students score 25 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1701 Alsace Ave, Norfolk, VA 23509
- Math 87% vs VA 69% (2025)
- Reading 91% vs VA 73% (2025)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 89% across the 11-year record (2015–2025).
Show all 8 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 78% (multi-year average, 2015-2025) · reading/ELA 88% (multi-year average, 2015-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 27 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Academy for Discovery at Lakewood sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 64Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 41Some Transit
- Bike 50Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,246/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Norfolk), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$70,715
Median home value
$238,500
Median rent
$1,259/mo
College educated
28.7%
Homeownership
61.9%
Poverty rate
16.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 23509; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Collegiate SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–12 | 0.4 mi | 516 | Compare → |
| Norview MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.4 | 6–8 | 1.4 mi | 1,152 | Compare → |
| Norfolk Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–12 | 1.5 mi | 609 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Norfolk City Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 49
- Rank in district
- #1 of 44
- District spending per student
- $16,341NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 22.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is listed in Norfolk City Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is a public middle school in Norfolk, VA, part of Norfolk City Public Schools, serving approximately 730 students in grades 3rd-8th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #28 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
What grades does Academy for Discovery at Lakewood serve?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood serves students in grades 3rd through 8th.
How many students attend Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood has an enrollment of approximately 730 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
The student-teacher ratio at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Academy for Discovery at Lakewood rank in VA?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood ranks #28 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Academy for Discovery at Lakewood's MySchoolScout rating?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood has 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025).
Is Academy for Discovery at Lakewood a charter school?
No, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Academy for Discovery at Lakewood a Title I school?
No, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
100.3% of students at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 3rd – 8th
- Enrollment
- 730
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Norfolk city
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 3.4%
- Phone
- (757) 628-2477
- Area population (ZIP 23509)
- 12,912
- Area average commute
- 23.7 min
- Area median age
- 39.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 23509; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2015-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.