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Norfolk City Public Schools · High School · Grades 9-12

Booker T. Washington High School

1111 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23504 · Home of the Bookers (The Mighty Bookers)

✓ Fully Accredited · 2024-2025
This year · 2025–26
2.0/10
Below state average
Last year · 2024–25
2.3/10
Below state average
▼ Down 0.3 from 2024–25
VaHome School Score

Rating: VaHome School Score, computed from Virginia Department of Education data (2025–26) — methodology on this page. Profile data: NCES & Virginia DOE. School boundaries can change — verify zoning with the district before relying on it.

Booker T. Washington High School phone, mascot & school colors

Phone
(757) 628-3575
Mascot
Bookers (The Mighty Bookers)
School colors
Maroon, White, Gold
Principal
Matthew Mason
Address
1111 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23504
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.

1.4 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 56.8% across all subjects — 5th percentile statewide.

2.1 · College readiness

On-time graduation, AP participation, and college enrollment within 16 months — 12th percentile.

3.2 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 22.1% — better attendance than 25% of peers statewide.

Year over year: 2.0 for 2025–26, compared with 2.3 for 2024–25 — down 0.3.

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
60%state 77%
Geometry
40%state 82%
Algebra I
59%state 86%
Earth Science
52%state 72%
English Reading
71%state 86%
English Writing
50%state 76%
World History I
46%state 71%
VA and US History
52%state 38%

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

College & career

Class of 2025 cohort of 260 students; AP and dual enrollment are 2025–26, unless noted.

76.5%
On-time graduation rate (class of 2025)
13%
Advanced Studies diplomas
40%
Enrolled in college within 16 months (class of 2022)
17.7%
Dropout rate
11.6%
Enrolled in AP courses
9.5%
Took an AP exam
4.6%
Dual enrollment (college credit)
317
Industry certifications earned (CTE)

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

Booker T. Washington High School & its school zone

A public high school in Norfolk Public Schools, B. T. Washington High School anchors its attendance zone in Norfolk, VA 23504. Buyers searching homes for sale near B. T. Washington High School are typically shopping the BT Washington zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Norfolk high school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 2.0/10 — below the state average among Virginia's 321 public high schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2025–26. That is down from 2.3 in 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 56.8%, with standout results in VA and US History (52% vs a 38% state average). 76.5% of the class of 2025 graduated on time, 13% of them with Advanced Studies diplomas. 40% of the school's 2022 graduates enrolled in college within 16 months. Program depth includes 12% AP course enrollment, 5% dual enrollment for college credit, 317 industry certifications through career and technical education. Chronic absenteeism is 22.1%, compared with the 16.4% state median for high schools.

For house hunters comparing Norfolk school zones, homes zoned to B. T. Washington High School sit in the BT Washington 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 Norfolk 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
Norfolk City Public Schools
Grades served
9-12
School type
Regular public school
Established
1911 · this campus 1974
Enrollment
864 students (2025-2026)
Student–teacher ratio
12:1
Classroom teachers
75 FTE
Accreditation
Fully Accredited (2024-2025)
NCES school ID
510267001079

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2025-2026
Reading
71%
Mathematics
58%
Science
57%
History & Social Sci.
51%
76.5%
On-time graduation (Class of 2025)
17.7%
Dropout rate
13%
Earned an Advanced Diploma

College & career readiness

2025-2026
11.59%
Students in AP courses
4.63%
Dual-enrollment (college credit)
317
Career & technical credentials earned

AP course enrollment 11.59%; AP exams taken 9.5%; dual enrollment 4.63%; 317 industry certifications, per Virginia School Quality Profiles (2025-26).

Attendance

2025-2026

22.1% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About Booker T. Washington High School

Booker T. Washington High School was founded in 1911 and in 1917 became Virginia's first accredited public high school for African Americans. Its historic marching band was the first African-American marching band to perform in a televised presidential inauguration parade, appearing for President Harry Truman in 1949, and later performed at inaugurations for President Eisenhower and at the 2014 Virginia governor's inaugural parade. The current facility, located at 1111 Park Avenue in Norfolk, opened in 1974 at a cost of roughly $8 million.

The school sits in Norfolk's Park Avenue area and operates as part of Norfolk City Public Schools, serving grades 9-12. It is also known as BTW and operates the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts.

Notable alumni

Bruce Smith· Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive endPernell Whitaker· Multiple-time world boxing championTony Brothers· NBA refereeAline Elizabeth Black· Educator and civil-rights figureDon Carey· NFL cornerback (2009 draft)Samuel L. Green Jr.· Pastor and bishop

Data sources

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.

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