Discovery STEM Academy, Newport News, VA

At a glance

School district: Newport News City Public Schools
Grades served: PK-5
School type: Public magnet elementary school
Principal: Ms. Viveca Rutland
Established: Renamed from Magruder Elementary in 2016 · this campus 2016
Enrollment: 561 students (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio: 18:1
Classroom teachers: 32 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510264001062

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

43%

Mathematics

49%

Science

36%

History & Social Sci.

51%

Attendance

2024-2025

15.5% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About Discovery STEM Academy

Discovery STEM Academy is a public magnet elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, serving students in grades PK through 5. It occupies the site of the former Magruder Elementary School, which the Newport News School Board voted to rename in 2016; the original school had been named for Confederate general John Bankhead Magruder. As part of the transformation, the campus was rebuilt with a new facility and reopened in 2016 as a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) magnet, described by the district as one of the first STEM-focused elementary magnet schools of its kind. Its curriculum uses a problem-based learning design in which each unit centers on a real-world problem students solve by taking on a related career role.

The school is located at 1712 Chestnut Avenue in the Southeast Community (East End) of Newport News, a residential area near the city's downtown and the James River. It is part of Newport News City Public Schools and is classified by NCES as being in a midsize city locale.

Contact

Phone: (757) 928-6838
Office hours: Office hours 8:30 am - 4:45 pm; school day 9:20 am - 3:55 pm

Official school website ↗

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data - Discovery STEM Academy — NCES ID (510264001062), state ID VA-117-1170130, address, phone, grades PK-5, enrollment 561, 32.0 FTE teachers, student/teacher ratio 17.53, midsize-city locale, charter/regular status, free-lunch eligibility, race/ethnicity counts2024-2025 link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles - Discovery STEM Academy — Accreditation status (Fully Accredited, 2025-2026), SOL pass rates (reading 43, math 49, science 36, history 51), demographics (econ. disadvantaged 82.4%, EL 2.8%, SWD 14.4%, race/ethnicity %), chronic absenteeism 15.5%, principal, Targeted Support and Improvement status2024-2025 (accreditation 2025-2026) link ↗
Discovery STEM Academy official website — Principal (Viveca Rutland), phone, school hours 9:20am-3:55pm, office hours 8:30am-4:45pm, mission/curriculum description2026 link ↗
Newport News Public Schools - School Namesakes & History — History of 2016 renaming from Magruder Elementary to Discovery STEM Academy2016 link ↗

Figures reflect the NCES 2024-2025; Virginia School Quality Profile SOL & demographics 2024-2025; accreditation 2025-2026 unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

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