Denbigh High School, Newport News, 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.

1.4 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 55.2% across all subjects — 5th percentile statewide.

3.7 · Academic progress

Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which credits schools for student growth — 30th percentile.

4.7 · College readiness

On-time graduation, AP participation, and college enrollment within 16 months — 41th percentile.

Test scores by subject

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

This school Virginia average

Biology

68%state 78%

Geometry

51%state 82%

Algebra I

73%state 85%

Algebra II

79%state 89%

Earth Science

30%state 70%

World History I

41%state 66%

World History II

17%state 37%

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

College & career

Class of 2024 cohort of 286 students, unless noted.

97.9%

On-time graduation rate

37%

Advanced Studies diplomas

33%

Enrolled in college within 16 months

0.7%

Dropout rate

16.5%

Enrolled in AP courses

15.2%

Took an AP exam

0.6%

Dual enrollment (college credit)

421

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 3.2/10 — 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 55.2%. 97.9% of the class of 2024 graduated on time, 37% of them with Advanced Studies diplomas. 33% of graduates enrolled in college within 16 months. Program depth includes 17% AP course enrollment, 1% dual enrollment for college credit, 421 industry certifications through career and technical education.

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.
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: Newport News City Public Schools
Grades served: 9-12
School type: Public
Principal: Dr. Adria Strothers
Established: 1965
Mascot & colors: Patriot · Red, White, Blue
Enrollment: 1,269 students (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio: 14:1
Classroom teachers: 88.6 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2024-2025)
NCES school ID: 510264001047

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

72%

Mathematics

70%

Science

68%

History & Social Sci.

36%

98%

On-time graduation (2025)

1%

Dropout rate

College & career readiness

2024-2025

16.54%

Students in AP courses

0.55%

Dual-enrollment (college credit)

106 students earned Advanced Studies Diplomas (count only; percentage not reported).

Attendance

2024-2025

26.5% 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

Contact

Phone: (757) 886-7700

Official school website ↗

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 link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles — Denbigh High — Accreditation, SOL pass rates, graduation/dropout, chronic absenteeism, AP/dual enrollment, demographics percentages, principal2024-2025 link ↗
Wikipedia — Denbigh High School (Newport News, Virginia) — Founding history, mascot, colors, Aviation program, notable alumnin/a link ↗
Denbigh High School official website — Official school website URLn/a link ↗

Figures reflect the 2024-2025 unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

Denbigh High School