Needs Improvement
#1652 of 1,851 schools in VA
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle
Middle School · Newport News City Public Schools · Newport News, VA
A Newport News City Public Schools middle school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
432 Industrial Park Dr, Newport News, VA 23608
- Math 51% vs VA 66% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs VA 74% (2025)
- 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
2025 SOL proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. VA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 18 points since 2019, to 52% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
93.8%
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 Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle 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 22Car-Dependent
- Transit 36Some Transit
- Bike 30Somewhat 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
$67,556
Median home value
$243,300
Median rent
$1,245/mo
College educated
27%
Homeownership
51.4%
Poverty rate
14.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 23608; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Passage MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 6–8 | 1.1 mi | 976 | Compare → |
| Grafton MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 6–8 | 4.5 mi | 913 | Compare → |
| Denbigh Baptist Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | PK–12 | 4.6 mi | 248 | Compare → |
| Yorktown MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 6–8 | 4.7 mi | 652 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Newport News City Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 43
- Rank in district
- #28 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
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is listed in Newport News City Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle is a public middle school in Newport News, VA, part of Newport News City Public Schools, serving approximately 969 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,652 of 1,851 schools in VA.
State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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 ranks #1,652 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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 Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 969
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 64
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Newport News city
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.2%
- Phone
- (757) 888-3300
- Area population (ZIP 23608)
- 43,841
- Area average commute
- 27.9 min
- Area median age
- 33.6
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 23608; 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, 2009-2025; 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.