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Below Average

#1478 of 1,850 schools in VA

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle

Middle School · Newport News City Public Schools

432 Industrial Park Dr, Newport News, VA 23608

Enrollment

969

Student-Teacher

15.1:1

Score

4.9

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Newport News

#29 of 39

public schools

Virginia middle schools

#310 of 340

In district

#30 of 40

Newport News City Public Schools

Equity

7.8 / 10

Very strong

About Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle serves 969 students in grades 6-8 in Newport News, Virginia. The school maintains a reasonable student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 with 64 full-time equivalent teachers on staff, providing a solid foundation for middle school education in this mid-size city environment.

As a regular public school, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle ranks 1267 out of 1856 schools statewide, placing it in the 32nd percentile among Virginia middle schools with a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10. The school is working to strengthen its academic programs and support student achievement across all grade levels.

The school draws from a diverse community in the 23608 zip code area, where families have a median household income of $67,260 and median home values around $234,100. About 27% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the local poverty rate stands at 12%. This working-class neighborhood of over 42,000 residents provides a stable foundation for the school community.

Located on Industrial Park Drive, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle sits in an established area of Newport News, serving families who value accessible public education in a mid-size city setting that balances suburban comfort with urban amenities.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.4Fair40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.96 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Above Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency90%
Reading/ELA Proficiency54%
Math vs. State Avg+14.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.7 pts
Overall Proficiency72%
Expected (poverty-adj.)69%
vs. Expected+3.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile43th
Resources & Environment5.9Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,195

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle — Students at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

93.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 58.2%
School
State
66.4%
ELA Proficiency 56.3%
School
State
73.8%

Based on 12 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
75%
ELA
65%
2021*
Math
41%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
58.3%
ELA
54%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.4/10.

How Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle Compares

See how Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.9/10
20th percentile in VA
Academic
6.0/10
6.0/10
Growth
3.4/10
Below average
Environment
5.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
94%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
64 teachers

Location

432 Industrial Park Dr, Newport News, VA 23608

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. York High (rated 8.9/10, 4.0 miles away, in nearby Yorktown), which scores notably higher. Another option is NNBHC-THE ACADEMY AT LEE HALL (rated 8.2/10, 3.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, George J. McIntosh Elementary (rated 6.7/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Newport News, see our Newport News schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Denbigh Early Childhood Center Newport News 0.2 mi 5.7
Mary Passage Middle Newport News 1.1 mi 6.4
General Stanford Elementary Ft. Eustis 1.1 mi 5.9
David A. Dutrow Elementary Newport News 1.4 mi 5.1
George J. McIntosh Elementary Newport News 1.7 mi 6.7
Oliver C. Greenwood Elementary Newport News 1.6 mi 6.3
Richneck Elementary Newport News 1.6 mi 3.8
Woodside High Newport News 1.7 mi 6.0
Katherine Johnson Elementary Newport News 2.0 mi 4.6
Stoney Run Elementary Newport News 2.2 mi 6.6
Knollwood Meadows Elementary Newport News 2.5 mi 3.9
Denbigh High Newport News 2.6 mi 6.3
DENBIGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Newport News 2.5 mi
NNBHC-THE ACADEMY AT LEE HALL Newport News 3.3 mi 8.2
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DENBIGH CHILD DEVT CENTER AND Newport News 3.4 mi
T. Ryland Sanford Elementary Newport News 3.6 mi 6.2
Yorktown Elementary Yorktown 3.5 mi 6.6
Willis A. Jenkins Elementary Newport News 4.2 mi 3.5
York High Yorktown 4.0 mi 8.9
York River Academy Yorktown 4.0 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 23608 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,556

Median Home Value

$243,300

Median Rent

$1,245/mo

Population

43,841

College Educated

27%

Homeownership

51.4%

Avg Commute

27.9 min

Poverty Rate

14.2%

Median Age

33.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has a median household income of $67,556. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $243,300, with a median rent of $1,245/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.2%. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Manassas Park Middle Manassas Park, VA 4.9
Quioccasin Middle Richmond, VA 4.9
Cesar Tarrant Middle Hampton, VA 5.0
Dinwiddie County Middle Dinwiddie, VA 5.0
Manchester Middle North Chesterfield, VA 5.0
Caroline Middle Milford, VA 4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle

What grades does Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle serve?

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has an enrollment of approximately 969 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle rank in VA?

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is ranked #1478 out of 1,850 schools in VA.

What is Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has a composite rating of 4.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has 58.2% math proficiency and 56.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle a charter school?

No, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle a Title I school?

No, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?

93.8% of students at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
36 Some Transit
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,173/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Newport News). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
969
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
64
Free/Reduced Lunch
93.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Newport News city
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Newport News City Public Schools
District Enrollment
26,183
Schools in District
43
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,082
District Rank
#30 of 40

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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