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Portsmouth City School District

Item: Portsmouth City School District
Rating: 2
Author: Public School Review

801 Crawford St
Portsmouth, VA 23704-3822

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (757) 393-8742

pps.k12.va.us

Top Rankings

Portsmouth City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Virginia for:

Overview

This School District

This State (VA)

# Schools

23 Schools

2,138 Schools

# Students

12,905 Students

1,256,693 Students

# Teachers

936 Teachers

92,235 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
Pre-K	491	163
Kind	969	403
1	1,034	425
2	1,029	435
3	1,027	454
4	944	437
5	932	444
6	1,005	446
7	908	449
8	955	451
9	1,053	491
10	928	483
11	813	466
12	817	465

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District Rank

Portsmouth City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 131 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 81% has decreased from 82% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (VA)

#113 out of 132 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District
2023	#113
2022	#111
2021	#111
2019	#103
2018	#113
2017	#113
2016	#110
2015	#103
2014	#104
2013	#101
2012	#115

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50%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2023	50%	68%
2021	34%	54%
2019	74%	82%
2017	64%	72%
2016	71%	80%
2015	72%	79%
2014	66%	74%
2013	62%	71%
2012	55%	68%
2011	82%	86%
2010	84%	87%

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(20-21)

58%

69%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2021	58%	69%
2019	70%	78%
2017	71%	80%
2016	70%	80%
2015	72%	79%
2014	65%	74%
2013	65%	74%
2012	83%	89%
2011	84%	88%
2010	84%	89%

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(20-21)

47%

59%

81%

89%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2023	81%	89%
2022	81%	89%
2021	79%	89%
2020	86%	89%
2019	80%	87%
2018	82%	88%
2017	81%	87%
2016	83%	87%
2015	81%	86%
2014	79%	85%
2013	74%	85%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.49

0.72

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2024	0.47	0.72
2023	0.47	0.71
2022	0.45	0.70
2021	0.44	0.70
2020	0.44	0.68
2019	0.44	0.68
2018	0.44	0.67
2017	0.44	0.67
2016	0.45	0.68
2015	0.45	0.66
2014	0.45	0.66
2013	0.46	0.65
2012	0.48	0.64
2011	0.48	0.64
2010	0.41	0.62
2009	0.41	0.60
2008	0.41	0.60
2007	0.41	0.59
2006	0.42	0.58
2005	0.41	0.57
2004	0.42	0.55
2003	0.43	0.55
2002	0.44	0.53
2001	0.44	0.52
2000	0.45	0.51
1999	0.45	0.51
1998	0.46	0.50
1997	0.45	0.49
1996	0.45	0.48
1995	0.45	0.49
1994	0.46	0.47

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2024)
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2024	1%	8%
2023	1%	7%
2022	1%	7%
2021	1%	8%
2020	1%	7%
2019	1%	7%
2014	1%	7%
2013	1%	7%
2012	2%	6%
2011	2%	7%
2010	2%	7%
2009	1%	7%
2008	1%	6%
2007	1%	6%
2006	1%	6%
2005	1%	6%
2004	2%	6%
2003	1%	5%
2002	1%	5%
2001	1%	4%
2000	1%	4%
1999	1%	4%
1998	1%	4%
1997	1%	4%
1996	1%	3%
1995	1%	4%
1994	1%	3%
1993	1%	3%

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% Hispanic

20%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2024)
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2024	6%	19%
2023	6%	19%
2022	5%	18%
2021	4%	18%
2020	3%	16%
2019	3%	16%
2018	3%	15%
2017	3%	15%
2016	4%	14%
2015	4%	14%
2014	3%	13%
2013	3%	12%
2012	3%	12%
2011	4%	11%
2010	2%	10%
2009	2%	10%
2008	2%	10%
2007	2%	9%
2006	2%	8%
2005	1%	7%
2004	1%	6%
2003	1%	7%
2002	1%	5%
2001	1%	5%
2000	1%	4%
1999	1%	4%
1998	1%	4%
1997	1%	3%

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% Black

69%

21%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2024	70%	22%
2023	71%	22%
2022	72%	22%
2021	73%	22%
2020	73%	22%
2019	73%	22%
2018	72%	23%
2017	72%	23%
2016	71%	23%
2015	69%	23%
2014	72%	23%
2013	71%	23%
2012	69%	24%
2011	68%	24%
2010	73%	26%
2009	74%	26%
2008	73%	27%
2007	73%	27%
2006	72%	27%
2005	72%	27%
2004	71%	27%
2003	71%	27%
2002	70%	27%
2001	69%	27%
2000	68%	27%
1999	68%	27%
1998	67%	27%
1997	68%	27%
1996	68%	27%
1995	68%	26%
1994	67%	26%

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% White

15%

44%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2024	17%	44%
2023	17%	45%
2022	18%	46%
2021	18%	46%
2020	20%	49%
2019	20%	49%
2018	22%	50%
2017	22%	50%
2016	22%	50%
2015	23%	52%
2014	21%	52%
2013	22%	53%
2012	22%	54%
2011	22%	54%
2010	23%	57%
2009	23%	57%
2008	24%	57%
2007	24%	58%
2006	25%	59%
2005	26%	60%
2004	26%	61%
2003	27%	61%
2002	28%	63%
2001	29%	64%
2000	30%	65%
1999	30%	65%
1998	31%	65%
1997	30%	66%
1996	30%	67%
1995	31%	67%
1994	32%	68%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2024	6%	7%
2023	5%	7%
2022	4%	7%
2021	4%	6%
2020	3%	6%
2019	3%	6%
2018	3%	5%
2017	3%	5%
2016	3%	5%
2015	4%	5%
2014	3%	5%
2013	3%	5%
2012	4%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,532 is higher than the state median of $15,513. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $14,461 is less than the state median of $15,268. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.

This School District

This State (VA)

Total Revenue

$200 MM

$19,496 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2023	$200 MM	$50 MM
2022	$185 MM	$48 MM
2021	$200 MM	$50 MM
2020	$185 MM	$48 MM
2019	$182 MM	$48 MM
2018	$176 MM	$46 MM
2017	$171 MM	$44 MM
2016	$166 MM	$43 MM
2015	$182 MM	$42 MM
2014	$156 MM	$41 MM
2012	$177 MM	$41 MM
2011	$178 MM	$40 MM
2010	$182 MM	$42 MM
2009	$190 MM	$43 MM
2008	$188 MM	$43 MM
2007	$179 MM	$42 MM
2006	$158 MM	$37 MM
2005	$149 MM	$33 MM
2004	$134 MM	$31 MM
2003	$128 MM	$33 MM
2002	$126 MM	$29 MM
2001	$129 MM	$28 MM
2000	$125 MM	$27 MM
1999	$120 MM	$25 MM
1998	$112 MM	$23 MM
1997	$121 MM	$22 MM
1996	$103 MM	$20 MM
1995	$101 MM	$20 MM

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Spending

$187 MM

$19,187 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2023	$187 MM	$50 MM
2022	$177 MM	$48 MM
2021	$187 MM	$50 MM
2020	$177 MM	$48 MM
2019	$175 MM	$48 MM
2018	$175 MM	$46 MM
2017	$168 MM	$44 MM
2016	$169 MM	$43 MM
2015	$171 MM	$42 MM
2014	$157 MM	$40 MM
2012	$191 MM	$41 MM
2011	$176 MM	$38 MM
2010	$171 MM	$42 MM
2009	$179 MM	$42 MM
2008	$179 MM	$41 MM
2007	$172 MM	$40 MM
2006	$158 MM	$39 MM
2005	$150 MM	$36 MM
2004	$133 MM	$31 MM
2003	$126 MM	$31 MM
2002	$125 MM	$29 MM
2001	$128 MM	$29 MM
2000	$122 MM	$27 MM
1999	$114 MM	$24 MM
1998	$114 MM	$23 MM
1997	$119 MM	$21 MM
1996	$105 MM	$21 MM
1995	$98 MM	$19 MM

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Revenue / Student

$15,532

$15,513

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2023	$14,991	$13,350
2022	$13,215	$13,011
2021	$14,964	$14,122
2020	$13,215	$13,011
2018	$12,297	$12,340
2017	$11,672	$12,324
2016	$11,148	$12,007
2015	$12,044	$10,576
2014	$10,433	$10,820
2012	$11,629	$10,405
2011	$11,763	$10,061
2010	$11,879	$10,576
2009	$12,391	$11,282
2008	$12,203	$10,833
2007	$11,609	$11,013
2006	$9,971	$10,006
2005	$9,383	$9,139
2004	$8,117	$8,571
2003	$8,003	$8,950
2002	$7,475	$8,028
2001	$7,819	$7,912
2000	$7,307	$7,658
1999	$6,868	$6,541
1998	$6,348	$6,329
1997	$6,763	$6,082
1995	$5,663	$5,657
1992	$4,999	$5,133
1990	$4,768	$4,932

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Spending / Student

$14,461

$15,268

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Portsmouth City School District	Virginia
2023	$13,957	$13,422
2022	$12,640	$13,009
2021	$13,932	$14,198
2020	$12,640	$13,009
2018	$12,214	$12,303
2017	$11,487	$12,398
2016	$11,351	$12,042
2015	$11,353	$10,658
2014	$10,481	$10,531
2012	$12,490	$10,420
2011	$11,667	$9,778
2010	$11,197	$10,658
2009	$11,663	$11,065
2008	$11,619	$10,444
2007	$11,161	$10,604
2006	$9,929	$10,603
2005	$9,439	$9,839
2004	$8,064	$8,522
2003	$7,914	$8,394
2002	$7,414	$8,029
2001	$7,744	$8,196
2000	$7,177	$7,662
1999	$6,500	$6,251
1998	$6,431	$6,290
1997	$6,668	$5,970
1995	$5,492	$5,518
1992	$5,080	$5,049
1990	$4,856	$4,824

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Portsmouth City School District?

Portsmouth City School District manages 23 public schools serving 12,905 students.

What is the rank of Portsmouth City School District?

Portsmouth City School District is ranked #113 out of 131 school districts in Virginia (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Virginia school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Portsmouth City School District?

69% of Portsmouth City School District students are Black, 15% of students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Portsmouth City School District?

Portsmouth City School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the Virginia state average of 14:1.

What is Portsmouth City School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $14,461 is less than the state median of $15,268. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 23 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 12,905 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 85%
: 81% (Btm 50% in VA)
: Bottom 50%
: 50% (Btm 50%)
: 58% (Btm 50%)
: 47% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education