2023 Best School Districts in the Norfolk Area

• Yorktown, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  52 reviews

Junior: I love how much of a community York County is. This year has been very hard on York County, but it has also been really beautiful to see how well they come around students and faculty during rough times. My school caught on fire in early February, thus displacing thousands of students. Our surrounding schools immediately cared for us and provided us with places to continue our learning. I am truly impressed with our school board, our teachers, and our students. I couldn't ask for a better place to start and end my high school career at!... Read 52 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 19

• Students 12,330

• Virginia Beach, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  241 reviews

Senior: The education given and the help provided is really what helped me through my school career my whole life. Teahers are so passionate of their jobs and helping students strive to be their best selves. From K-12th grade I have never experienced a teacher who doesn't care! All I want to see change, honestly, is the food. It is more on the healthy side which I understand but the quality of food makes the taste way better!... Read 241 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 87

• Students 65,612

• Williamsburg, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  35 reviews

Senior: I like that the environment is not only surrounded by education, but also sports. Many teachers grew up in this area and participated in the same activities as students are today. There is a big sense of unity in that aspect. However, the sportsmanship between the schools has/has been toxic for years. There is a sense of superiority from the older schools, which is understandable. However, it is sometimes overwhelming when people doubt your skills and talent because of the school you go to. The sport experience between schools is something that I wish would change for the better.... Read 35 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 10,985

• Chesapeake, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  120 reviews

Senior: The worst part about Chesapeake Public Schools is the amount of seat time that we have. We sit in class for too long behind screens it becomes tiring; however, I will say the best part is the amount of classes they have to offer for student to get ahead.... Read 120 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 48

• Students 39,673

• Poquoson, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  20 reviews

Junior: Poquoson is a great, community-oriented school that encompasses a true feeling of support for one another. The school has a high level of school spirit, especially in athletics and during spirit weeks throughout the year. In addition, the faculty and administration is always supportive of the student body and play a key role in the overall positive atmosphere of the building. However, the school as a whole is out dated and not adequately fit to provide a high level of education. The technology is not up to standard with the ever-evolving capabilities of today's software. In addition, the school does not feel safe. About half of the walls in the building are only temporary and made out of plastic. All factors considered, Poquoson High School is an above average venue for receiving an education and continues to strive to make a positive impact on anyone who attends the school.... Read 20 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 4

• Students 2,069

• Smithfield, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  24 reviews

Parent: We love it here! My children are doing really well. They have an amazing reading program. They have coding and stem resource classes in the northern area where I live. And a rich sense of culture and community involvement. They continue to strive to reach all students and I see many options for my kids as they get older down the road to enhance any type of education they want. I would recommend these schools to any and everyone who's looking for a solid School District. The parents are friendly and outgoing and they really work hard for the kids as volunteers. The expos are amazing and they showcase great student work. I'm continually amazed by how much my child is accomplishing every year. We love our schools.... Read 24 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 9

• Students 5,396

• Suffolk, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  47 reviews

Parent: I LOVE SUFFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I AM A SENIOR THIS YEAR AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES WITHIN MY SCHOOL. THE COMMUNITY POPULATION IS GROWING SO FAST THAT NEW SCHOOL ARE BEING BUILT IN ORDER TO KEEP UP. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS NEED MAJOR REPAIRS AND WERE ONCE THE HIGH SCHOOLS WHEN MY MOM WAS GROWING UP. OVERALL, TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTIVE. WISH I HAD RECEIVED MORE COLLEGE PREP INSTRUCTION LIKE SURVEYS OR TOOLS TO HELP YOU DECLARE A MAJOR BASED ON MY HOBBIES, ACTIVITIES, LIKES AND DISLIKES. I NEEDED MORE COUNSELOR NE-ON-ONE TIME. SO MANY STUDENTS AND NOT ENOUGH PERSONAL HELP WITH CHOOSIGN COURSES AND COLLEGE PREP.... Read 47 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 22

• Students 13,869

• Gloucester, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  35 reviews

Senior: Ever since 7th grade, my first grade level attending Gloucester County Public Schools after I moved here from Hawaii, I have had nothing but good experiences attending Page Middle School and Gloucester High School. I have had great teachers, amazing opportunities, and I have made exemplary friends. I enjoy coming to school everyday because of this and I plan on graduating from Gloucester High School in June 2023. The main thing I would like to see as a change in the high school, specifically, is infrastructure. The school is very old and improvements are much needed. Improvements in school food are very much necessary. Advancements in inclusivity are also needed to make Gloucester High School the best it could be for everyone attending. Overall, I truly enjoy every day attending Gloucester High School and being part of Gloucester County Public Schools.... Read 35 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 9

• Students 5,044

• Newport News, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.01 out of 5  149 reviews

Senior: Newport News' schools are not corrupt, are for the most part easy to work with, and there is an active effort being made to make student's lives better. That's more than a lot of school systems can say! But, schools are somewhat underfunded, many teachers are actively looking for other opportunities, and there is a vast diversity in quality depending on the school you attend. Your experience will be better if you have a dedicated student who wants to apply to magnet programs or if you live within zoning for a better school. Some schools have safety issues, but a lot of effort is being put into changing that. While no school is perfect and you might run into some minor issues, no high school or elementary school has a real bullying issue. There are no good middle schools, even the uniform middle schools don't take student concerns seriously and are disorganized. Overall, I'm not upset with my school experience here.... Read 149 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 45

• Students 27,113

• Surry, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  17 reviews

Works Here: I currently am employed at Surry County Public Schools. I love working here. The school climate is amazing, the students are well-behaved. This school is a public school with a private school feel. School and parent involvement are very high. They have also implemented new programs and events for the community to be involved in at the school. Dual enrollment allows the students to graduate with college credits, which allows them to go to college as incoming Sophomores. SCPS is doing great things with the kids... Read 17 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 3

• Students 679

• Hampton, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  117 reviews

Junior: I like the programs Hampton City Schools has in order to prepare students for college and careers after high school. Hampton City Schools also has good academic classes in order to get ahead with college credits. Hampton City Schools is also expanding sports and extracurricular activities throughout the district. The district is also taking good preventative measures to ensure the safety of students and faculty, such as metal detectors, random searches, and school resource officers. Although, in the future I would like to see opportunities for more dual enrollment classes that could be applied to a wider variety college degrees and that could also be applied to graduation requirements.... Read 117 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 33

• Students 19,223

• Norfolk, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.45 out of 5  73 reviews

Niche User: Currently, I am an Old Dominion University student and have attended the past two years. The only reason I have only attended a few years is because I am a transfer student. Old Dominion University is a wonderful place to attend college with professors that truly are invested in your success as a student and for the future. As I am on campus I feel safe, but when leaving campus I always stay aware of my surroundings which is why I didn't give a five star rating. The nightlife is great at Old Dominion University that I have heard, I have not attended any such events due to living off campus. There are plenty of eateries in the area and always something to do!... Read 73 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 51

• Students 27,955

• Portsmouth, VA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  40 reviews

Alum: PPS was a interesting experience for me. I went to churchland high school. I was so excited to go to high school. The food there was okay! It’s very diverse and their labs are amazing. Being the science geek I am, I had fun doing labs in chemistry and biology. The teachers and staff were all great and they made sure I was mentally prepared for college. Now I am a Churchland High School alum and I can definitely say I’ll miss those days.... Read 40 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 24

• Students 13,395