Denbigh High School, Newport News, VA: Phone & Mascot

Denbigh High School phone, mascot & school colors

Phone: (757) 886-7700
Mascot: Patriot
School colors: Red, White, Blue
Principal: Dr. Adria Strothers
Address: 259 Denbigh Blvd #3313, Newport News, VA 23608

Official school website ↗

Score breakdown

Compared against all 321 Virginia public high schools. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.

2.9 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 69.0% across all subjects — 21th percentile statewide.

4.2 · College readiness

On-time graduation, AP participation, and college enrollment within 16 months — 36th percentile.

3.7 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 20.4% — better attendance than 30% of peers statewide.

Year over year: 3.6 for 2025–26, compared with 3.2 for 2024–25 — up 0.4.

Test scores by subject

Percent of students passing Virginia SOL tests, 2025–26. High school reading and writing compare end-of-course tests with the statewide end-of-course result.

This school Virginia average

Biology

65%state 77%

Geometry

48%state 82%

Algebra I

80%state 86%

Algebra II

79%state 88%

Earth Science

21%state 72%

English Reading

72%state 86%

VA and US History

28%state 38%

Source: Virginia Department of Education, School Quality Profiles — SOL pass rates, 2025–26.

College & career

Class of 2025 cohort of 279 students; AP and dual enrollment are 2025–26, unless noted.

96.4%

On-time graduation rate (class of 2025)

32%

Advanced Studies diplomas

31%

Enrolled in college within 16 months (class of 2022)

0.7%

Dropout rate

18.4%

Enrolled in AP courses

14.7%

Took an AP exam

3.8%

Dual enrollment (college credit)

230

Industry certifications earned (CTE)

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

Denbigh High School & its school zone

A public high school in Newport News Public Schools, Denbigh High School anchors its attendance zone in Newport News, VA 23608. Buyers searching homes for sale near Denbigh High School are typically shopping the Denbigh zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Newport News high school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 3.6/10 — below the state average among Virginia's 321 public high schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2025–26. That is up from 3.2 in 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 69.0%; reading pass rates come in at 72% against an 86% state average. 96.4% of the class of 2025 graduated on time, 32% of them with Advanced Studies diplomas. 31% of the school's 2022 graduates enrolled in college within 16 months. Program depth includes 18% AP course enrollment, 4% dual enrollment for college credit, 230 industry certifications through career and technical education. Chronic absenteeism is 20.4%, compared with the 16.4% state median for high schools.

For house hunters comparing Newport News school zones, homes zoned to Denbigh High School sit in the Denbigh 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 Newport News 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.
Attendance (20%): chronic absenteeism, ranked statewide (lower is better).
What changed for 2025–26: Virginia retired the accreditation “combined rate” we used for academic progress in 2024–25, so progress now uses the state's student growth rates. Virginia publishes no growth measure for high schools, so their 20% now goes to attendance. The year-over-year comparison at the top uses the score we published for 2024–25; part of a school's change can come from this method update.
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 (2025–26) · NCES. VaHome is not affiliated with VDOE, NCES, or GreatSchools.

At a glance

School district: Newport News City Public Schools
Grades served: 9-12
School type: Public
Established: 1965
Enrollment: 1,241 students (2025-2026)
Student–teacher ratio: 14:1
Classroom teachers: 88.6 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2024-2025)
NCES school ID: 510264001047

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2025-2026

Reading

72%

Mathematics

78%

Science

61%

History & Social Sci.

59%

96.4%

On-time graduation (Class of 2025)

0.7%

Dropout rate

32%

Earned an Advanced Diploma

College & career readiness

2025-2026

18.37%

Students in AP courses

3.79%

Dual-enrollment (college credit)

230

Career & technical credentials earned

AP course enrollment 18.37%; AP exams taken 14.67%; dual enrollment 3.79%; 230 industry certifications, per Virginia School Quality Profiles (2025-26).

Attendance

2025-2026

20.4% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About Denbigh High School

Denbigh High School opened in the fall of 1965 in the Denbigh section of Newport News, Virginia, originally operating on a five-year plan spanning grades 8-11; the class of 1970 was the first to complete all five years at the school. It now serves grades 9-12 as part of Newport News City Public Schools and is the district's host site for its Aviation Academy program. Its mascot is the Patriot and school colors are red, white, and blue.

The campus sits along Denbigh Boulevard in the northern part of Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula. The school is known regionally for award-winning choral and band programs and a long list of notable graduates, including Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Grammy-winning musicians Victor Wooten and Roy "Future Man" Wooten.

Notable alumni

Mike Tomlin· Head coach of the NFL's Pittsburgh SteelersAntoine Bethea· Former NFL safetyRobert Cray· Grammy-winning blues guitaristVictor Wooten· Five-time Grammy-winning bass guitaristRoy "Future Man" Wooten· Five-time Grammy-winning jazz drummer and instrument inventorJoseph Wooten· Keyboardist for the Steve Miller BandChris Peace· Former NFL defensive endTony Vinson· Former NFL and NFL Europa running backMax Yates· Former NFL linebacker

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data — Denbigh High School detail ↗ — NCES school/district ID, address, phone, grades, locale, total enrollment, FTE teachers, student/teacher ratio, race/ethnicity counts2024-2025
Virginia School Quality Profiles — Denbigh High ↗ — Accreditation, SOL pass rates, graduation/dropout, chronic absenteeism, AP/dual enrollment, demographics percentages, principalSOL, attendance, enrollment & AP/dual 2025-2026; graduation Class of 2025; accreditation SY2025-2026
Wikipedia — Denbigh High School (Newport News, Virginia) ↗ — Founding history, mascot, colors, Aviation program, notable alumnin/a
Denbigh High School official website ↗ — Official school website URLn/a

Figures reflect the 2025-2026 (Virginia DOE SOL, attendance, enrollment, AP & dual enrollment); Class of 2025 (graduation); 2024-2025 (NCES staffing); accreditation SY2024-2025 unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

Denbigh High School