Needs Improvement
#1755 of 1,851 schools in VA
Ruffner School
Middle School · Norfolk City Public Schools · Norfolk, VA
A Norfolk City Public Schools middle school where students score 34 points below what's typical for similar communities.
610 May Ave., Norfolk, VA 23504
- Math 23% vs VA 69% (2025)
- Reading 38% vs VA 73% (2025)
- 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ruffner School score 32% 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 11 points since 2019, to 31% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (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 39 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
92.6%
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 Ruffner School 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 41Car-Dependent
- Transit 73Excellent Transit
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$43,156
Median home value
$259,500
Median rent
$872/mo
College educated
24.3%
Homeownership
35.1%
Poverty rate
35.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 23504; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Place SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.5private | 3–8 | 1.6 mi | 69 | Compare → |
| Blair MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | 6–8 | 1.8 mi | 1,072 | Compare → |
| Dominion AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | 1–12 | 1.8 mi | 37 | Compare → |
| Harbor Point AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | 4–12 | 1.8 mi | 102 | 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
- #41 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
Ruffner School is listed in Norfolk City Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ruffner School
Ruffner School is a public middle school in Norfolk, VA, part of Norfolk City Public Schools, serving approximately 540 students in grades 3rd-8th with a 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,755 of 1,851 schools in VA. State assessment records show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ruffner School
What grades does Ruffner School serve?
Ruffner School serves students in grades 3rd through 8th.
How many students attend Ruffner School?
Ruffner School has an enrollment of approximately 540 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ruffner School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ruffner School is 10.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ruffner School rank in VA?
Ruffner School ranks #1,755 of 1,851 schools in VA.
What is Ruffner School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ruffner School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Ruffner School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ruffner School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Ruffner School a charter school?
No, Ruffner School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ruffner School a Title I school?
No, Ruffner School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ruffner School?
92.6% of students at Ruffner School 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
- 540
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 52
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Norfolk city
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.0%
- Phone
- (757) 628-2466
- Area population (ZIP 23504)
- 24,052
- Area average commute
- 20.2 min
- Area median age
- 28.7
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 23504; 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.