Needs Improvement
#1730 of 1,851 schools in VA
Discovery Stem Academy
Elementary School · Newport News City Public Schools · Newport News, VA
A Newport News City Public Schools elementary school where students score 18 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1712 Chestnut Ave, Newport News, VA 23607
- Math 49% vs VA 74% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs VA 72% (2025)
- 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Discovery Stem Academy score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2019, to 46% in 2025, across a 10-year record (2016–2025).
Show all 7 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2016-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (multi-year average, 2016-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 19 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.3%
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 Discovery Stem Academy 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 38Car-Dependent
- Transit 42Some Transit
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,173/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Newport News), 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
$42,904
Median home value
$146,400
Median rent
$1,104/mo
College educated
13.8%
Homeownership
29.9%
Poverty rate
28.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 23607; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvary Seventh-day Adventist SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 0.1 mi | 25 | Compare → |
| Achievable Dream AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 621 | Compare → |
| John Marshall Early Childhood CenterEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | PK–K | 0.8 mi | 232 | Compare → |
| Newsome Park ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 435 | 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.
Newport News City Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 43
- Rank in district
- #34 of 40
- District spending per student
- $16,082NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Discovery Stem Academy is listed in Newport News City Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Discovery Stem Academy
Discovery Stem Academy is a public elementary school in Newport News, VA, part of Newport News City Public Schools, serving approximately 550 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,730 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Discovery Stem Academy
What grades does Discovery Stem Academy serve?
Discovery Stem Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Discovery Stem Academy?
Discovery Stem Academy has an enrollment of approximately 550 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Stem Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Stem Academy is 17.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Discovery Stem Academy rank in VA?
Discovery Stem Academy ranks #1,730 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Discovery Stem Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Discovery Stem Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 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 Discovery Stem Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Discovery Stem Academy has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2025).
Is Discovery Stem Academy a charter school?
No, Discovery Stem Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Discovery Stem Academy a Title I school?
No, Discovery Stem Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery Stem Academy?
97.3% of students at Discovery Stem Academy 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 550
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 32
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Newport News city
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.6%
- Phone
- (757) 928-6838
- Area population (ZIP 23607)
- 23,028
- Area average commute
- 22.4 min
- Area median age
- 33.9
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 23607; 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, 2016-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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