Oscar F. Smith High School, Chesapeake, VA

Score breakdown

Compared against all 325 Virginia public high schools. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.

4.0 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 72.1% across all subjects — 34th percentile statewide.

5.0 · Academic progress

Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which credits schools for student growth — 45th percentile.

3.4 · College readiness

On-time graduation, AP participation, and college enrollment within 16 months — 27th percentile.

Test scores by subject

Percent of students passing Virginia SOL tests, 2024–2025.

This school Virginia average

Biology

77%state 78%

Geometry

80%state 82%

Algebra I

90%state 85%

Earth Science

50%state 70%

English Writing

65%state 76%

World History I

59%state 66%

World History II

65%state 37%

Source: Virginia Department of Education, School Quality Profiles — SOL pass rates, 2024–2025.

College & career

Class of 2024 cohort of 559 students, unless noted.

88%

On-time graduation rate

42%

Advanced Studies diplomas

57%

Enrolled in college within 16 months

3.4%

Dropout rate

10.9%

Enrolled in AP courses

8.8%

Took an AP exam

2.1%

Dual enrollment (college credit)

513

Industry certifications earned (CTE)

Source: Virginia Department of Education — Graduation, Diplomas, Advanced Programs, Postsecondary Enrollment, and CTE datasets.

Oscar F. Smith High School & its school zone

Oscar F. Smith High School serves Chesapeake, VA 23320 students as a public high school in Chesapeake Public Schools. Buyers searching homes for sale near Oscar F. Smith High School are typically shopping the Oscar Smith zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Chesapeake high school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 4.0/10 — below the state average among Virginia's 325 public high schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 72.1%, with standout results in World History II (65% vs a 37% state average). 88% of the class of 2024 graduated on time, 42% of them with Advanced Studies diplomas. 57% of graduates enrolled in college within 16 months. Program depth includes 11% AP course enrollment, 2% dual enrollment for college credit, 513 industry certifications through career and technical education.

For house hunters comparing Chesapeake school zones, homes zoned to Oscar F. Smith High School sit in the Oscar Smith attendance area — use the listings on this page to see every active REIN MLS home in the zone. School zoning and attendance boundaries can change between school years — always verify a specific address's assignment directly with Chesapeake Public Schools before making a housing decision based on school zone.

How the VaHome School Score works

Test scores (40%): the school's SOL pass rate across all subjects, ranked against every Virginia public school of the same level.
College readiness (40%): average statewide rank in on-time graduation rate, AP course enrollment, and college enrollment within 16 months of graduation.
Academic progress (20%): Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which gives schools credit for students showing growth.
The weighted statewide percentile maps to a score from 1.0 to 10.0: score = 1 + 9 × percentile. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.
Every input is public data from the Virginia Department of Education, refreshed each school year. No opinions, no black box — you can check our math.

Data: Virginia Department of Education School Quality Profiles (2024–2025) · NCES. VaHome is not affiliated with VDOE, NCES, or GreatSchools.

At a glance

School district: Chesapeake City Public Schools
Grades served: 9-12
School type: Public
Principal: Paul A. Joseph
Established: 1954 · this campus 1994
Mascot & colors: Tigers · Royal Blue, Gold, White
Enrollment: 2,264 students (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio: 13:1
Classroom teachers: 178.01 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510081000303

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

80%

Mathematics

88%

Science

75%

History & Social Sci.

58%

88%

On-time graduation (2024)

3%

Dropout rate

41.4%

Earned an Advanced Diploma

College & career readiness

2024-2025

10.93%

Students in AP courses

2.12%

Dual-enrollment (college credit)

626

Career & technical credentials earned

CTE: 626 credentials earned; 555 students earned one or more. Advanced diplomas: 232 of 560 graduates.

Attendance

2024-2025

19.9% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About Oscar F. Smith High School

Oscar F. Smith High School opened in 1954 and is named for Oscar Frommel Smith (1891-1950), a local fertilizer businessman whose widow donated funds toward the school's stadium. The school originally operated from a building on Rodgers Street in the South Norfolk area; when the campus relocated to its present site in 1994, the former building became Oscar F. Smith Middle School.

The current school sits on a roughly 43-acre campus in the Greenbrier West area of Chesapeake, Virginia, at 1994 Tiger Drive. It serves grades 9-12 within Chesapeake City Public Schools and is the largest of the city's comprehensive high schools by enrollment.

Athletics & activities

6

State athletic titles

6

Football state titles

Notable alumni

Kenny Easley· NFL safety (Seattle Seahawks); Pro Football Hall of Fame (2017); class of 1977Josh Sweat· NFL defensive end; class of 2015Cam Thomas· NBA guard (Brooklyn Nets)Michael Cherry· Olympic gold medalist sprinter; class of 2013Andrew Brown· NFL defensive tackle; class of 2014Steve DeLong· NFL defensive lineman; class of 1961Ed Beard· NFL linebacker (San Francisco 49ers); class of 1959

Contact

Phone: (757) 548-0696

Official school website ↗

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data — NCES IDs, enrollment, grades, FTE teachers, student/teacher ratio, locale, district, free-lunch counts, address, phone2024-2025 link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles — Accreditation, SOL pass rates, demographics, graduation/dropout, advanced diplomas, chronic absenteeism, AP/dual enrollment, CTE credentials, principal, phone2024-2025 / 2025-2026 accreditation / Class of 2024 grad link ↗
Wikipedia - Oscar F. Smith High School — Founding history, naming, relocation, campus/neighborhood/acreage, mascot, colors, football state titles, notable alumni, websiteAccessed 2026-07 link ↗

Figures reflect the 2024-2025 (SOL, enrollment, demographics); 2025-2026 (accreditation); Class of 2024 (graduation) unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

Oscar F. Smith High School