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Average

#778 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 42% in state

Willard Elementary

Elementary School · Norfolk City Public Schools

1511 Willow Wood Dr, Norfolk, VA 23509

Enrollment

449

Student-Teacher

10.2:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#778 of 1,851

In Norfolk

#7 of 44

public schools

In district

#7 of 44

Norfolk City Public Schools

Equity

8.7 / 10

Excellent

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Willard Elementary

6.8/10

Elementary School in Norfolk · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Academy for Discovery at Lakewood

9.3/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Norfolk Collegiate School

7.1/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Willard Elementary

Willard Elementary is a public elementary school in Norfolk, VA, part of Norfolk City Public Schools. Willard Elementary serves approximately 449 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Willard Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #778 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Willard Elementary show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.4 pts above district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 5.4
  • VA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.1Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.89 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics6.7Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg-2.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-6.7 pts
Overall Proficiency70% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)62% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+7.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,341
Chronic Absenteeism20.5%

Willard Elementary — Students at Willard Elementary score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

103.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 67.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.5% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 70.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.2% (2025 SOL)

Based on 33 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
88%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
81%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
55%
ELA
58%
2013
Math
65%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
78%
ELA
73%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
78%
2016
Math
80%
ELA
82%
2017
ELA
70%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2025
Math
71%
ELA
69.3%

* 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: 6.1/10.

How Willard Elementary Compares

See how Willard Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.8/10
58th percentile in VA
Academic
6.7/10
Average
Growth
6.1/10
Average
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
103%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1511 Willow Wood Dr, Norfolk, VA 23509

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Willard Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.0/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Ghent K-8 (rated 6.8/10, 2.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 1.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Norfolk, see our Norfolk schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood Norfolk 0.4 mi 9.3
NORFOLK COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Norfolk 0.3 mi 7.1
CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Norfolk 0.5 mi 7.0
MCDONALD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Norfolk 0.8 mi 4.9
NORFOLK CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Norfolk 1.2 mi 6.2
Suburban Park Elementary Norfolk 1.2 mi 5.6
Lindenwood Elementary Norfolk 1.3 mi 6.0
Granby High Norfolk 1.5 mi 6.4
NORFOLK COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Norfolk 1.7 mi 5.2
Granby Elementary Norfolk 1.6 mi 4.4
Norview Middle Norfolk 1.4 mi 4.4
James Monroe Elementary Norfolk 1.6 mi 4.4
DOMINION ACADEMY Norfolk 1.7 mi 8.2
Norview Elementary Norfolk 1.6 mi 4.8
Norview High Norfolk 1.7 mi 5.5
Sherwood Forest Elementary Norfolk 1.7 mi 5.0
Coleman Place Elementary Norfolk 1.9 mi 3.1
Ghent K-8 Norfolk 2.0 mi 6.8
Jacox Elementary Norfolk 2.2 mi 3.0
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Norfolk 1.8 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 23509 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,715

Median Home Value

$238,500

Median Rent

$1,259/mo

Population

12,912

College Educated

28.7%

Homeownership

61.9%

Avg Commute

23.7 min

Poverty Rate

16.9%

Median Age

39.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Belle Heth Elementary Radford, VA 6.8
Belmont Elementary Woodbridge, VA 6.8
Bristow Run Elementary Bristow, VA 6.8
C.M. Bradley Elementary Warrenton, VA 6.8
Fairhill Elementary Fairfax, VA 6.8
Flatwoods Elementary Jonesville, VA 6.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Willard Elementary

What grades does Willard Elementary serve?

Willard Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Willard Elementary?

Willard Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 449 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Willard Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Willard Elementary is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Willard Elementary rank in VA?

Willard Elementary ranks #778 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Willard Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Willard Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Willard Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Willard Elementary has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Willard Elementary a charter school?

No, Willard Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Willard Elementary a Title I school?

No, Willard Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Willard Elementary?

103.1% of students at Willard Elementary 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
53 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
42 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
449
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
103.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Norfolk city
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.5%

District

Norfolk City Public Schools
District Enrollment
26,882
Schools in District
49
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,341
District Rank
#7 of 44

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