Public schools in Suffolk, VA
22 open public schools with an address in Suffolk, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
22
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
14,565
19 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.2:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
3 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Suffolk public schools
The federal directory lists 22 public schools in Suffolk, VA: 11 elementary, 5 middle, 3 high, 3 combined or other. The 19 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 14,565 students, an average of 767 per school. The largest campus is King's Fork High (1,686 students), and the largest elementary school is Florence Bowser Elementary (926).
Every listed school belongs to Suffolk City Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.2:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 69% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Suffolk
Elementary schools in Suffolk
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booker T. Washington Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 362 | 14.5:1 | |
| Creekside Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 764 | 16.3:1 | |
| Elephant's Fork Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 653 | 18.1:1 | |
| Florence Bowser Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 926 | 21:1 | |
| Hillpoint Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 780 | 20:1 | |
| Kilby Shores Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 494 | 17:1 | |
| Mack Benn Jr. Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 713 | 16.2:1 | |
| Nansemond Parkway Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 456 | 15.7:1 | |
| Northern Shores Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 798 | 19.5:1 | |
| Oakland Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 464 | 17.8:1 | |
| Southwestern Elementary Suffolk City Public Schools | PK–05 | 579 | 18.7:1 |
Middle schools in Suffolk
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel Fred Cherry Middle Suffolk City Public Schools | 06–08 | 736 | 11.7:1 | |
| Forest Glen Middle Suffolk City Public Schools | 06–08 | 433 | 12.4:1 | |
| John F. Kennedy Middle Suffolk City Public Schools | 06–08 | 498 | 9.1:1 | |
| John Yeates Middle Suffolk City Public Schools | 06–08 | 509 | 10:1 | |
| King's Fork Middle Suffolk City Public Schools | 06–08 | 986 | 13.7:1 |
High schools in Suffolk
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Fork High Suffolk City Public Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,686 | 16.2:1 | |
| Lakeland High Suffolk City Public Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,045 | 12.2:1 | |
| Nansemond River High Suffolk City Public Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,683 | 15.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Suffolk
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST Academy Suffolk City Public Schools · Career and Technical School | Not reported | — | — | |
| The College and Career Academy at Pruden Suffolk City Public Schools · Career and Technical School | Not reported | — | — | |
| Turlington Woods Alternative Suffolk City Public Schools · Alternative School | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White26.9%
- Hispanic8.9%
- Black54.7%
- Asian1.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial7.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 Suffolk schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (14,565 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Suffolk
How many public schools are in Suffolk, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 22 open public schools with a location address in Suffolk: 11 elementary, 5 middle, 3 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 14,565 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Suffolk?
All listed public schools with an address in Suffolk belong to Suffolk City Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Suffolk?
King's Fork High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Suffolk, with 1,686 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Suffolk?
No school with an address in Suffolk is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Virginia.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Suffolk schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Suffolk public schools is 16.2:1, higher than the Virginia school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Suffolk guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Virginia cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Virginia cities