Richard Bowling Elementary School, Norfolk, VA

Score breakdown

Compared against all 1,106 Virginia public elementary schools. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.

1.7 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 49.2% across all subjects — 8th percentile statewide.

1.3 · Academic progress

Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which credits schools for student growth — 3th percentile.

6.9 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 9.8% — better attendance than 65% of peers statewide.

Test scores by subject

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

This school Virginia average

Grade 5 Science

43%state 69%

Virginia Studies

30%state 69%

Grade 3 Mathematics

50%state 73%

Grade 4 Mathematics

63%state 73%

Grade 5 Mathematics

48%state 71%

Grade 3 English Reading

51%state 67%

Grade 4 English Reading

60%state 73%

Grade 5 English Reading

50%state 72%

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

Richard Bowling Elementary School & its school zone

Richard Bowling Elementary School is a public elementary school in Norfolk, VA 23504, part of Norfolk Public Schools. Buyers searching homes for sale near Richard Bowling Elementary School are shopping this Norfolk school zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Norfolk elementary school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 2.6/10 — below the state average among Virginia's 1,106 public elementary schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 49.2%. Virginia's accreditation measures — which credit schools for student growth, not just pass rates — come in at 71% for English and 67% for Math. Chronic absenteeism is 9.8%, better than the 11.7% state median for elementary schools.

For house hunters comparing Norfolk school zones, the listings on this page show active REIN MLS homes near Richard Bowling Elementary School. 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 (50%): the school's SOL pass rate across all subjects, ranked against every Virginia public school of the same level.
Attendance (20%): chronic absenteeism, ranked statewide (lower is better).
Academic progress (30%): 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: Norfolk City Public Schools
Grades served: PK-5
School type: Public elementary school
Principal: Yukita Boone
Established: 1953
Mascot & colors: Hornets
Enrollment: 492 students (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio: 12:1
Classroom teachers: 42 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510267001083

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

53%

Mathematics

53%

Science

43%

History & Social Sci.

30%

About Richard Bowling Elementary School

Richard Bowling Elementary School opened in 1953 as Bowling Park Elementary School and was named in honor of the Rev. Richard H. Bowling, Jr., a Norfolk minister; its first principal was Purvis J. Chesson. The building was expanded in 1956, and the school later experienced Norfolk's desegregation and cross-town busing era. Over the years it has adopted initiatives such as the Comer Model for School Improvement and, for a period, same-gender classes and student uniforms. It is now known as Richard Bowling Elementary School.

The school sits at 2700 East Princess Anne Road in the eastern part of Norfolk, Virginia (ZIP 23504), in the Broad Creek area near Norfolk State University. It is part of Norfolk City Public Schools and serves students in grades PK through 5. Its team nickname is the Hornets.

Contact

Phone: (757) 628-2515
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (student school day 9:30 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.)

Official school website ↗

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data - Richard Bowling Elementary — NCES School ID, address, phone, grades PK-5, total enrollment (492), FTE teachers (42.0), student/teacher ratio (11.71), locale (City Midsize), race/ethnicity counts, free/reduced lunch, charter status (No)2024-2025 link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles - Richard Bowling Elementary — Accreditation status (Fully Accredited, 2025-2026), overall SOL pass rates (Reading 53, Math 53, Science 43, History/Social Science 30), demographics (economically disadvantaged 76.4%, EL 0.4%, SWD 18.7%, race/ethnicity), principal, enrollment2024-2025 (accreditation 2025-2026) link ↗
Richard Bowling Elementary School official website (Norfolk City Public Schools) — Principal (Yukita Boone), phone, office hours (8:30-4:30), school hours (9:30-3:55), mascot (Hornets)2026 link ↗
Richard Bowling Elementary - About Us page — Founding history (opened 1953 as Bowling Park Elementary), namesake Rev. Richard H. Bowling Jr., first principal Purvis J. Chesson, 1956 expansion, desegregation/busing history, mascot (Hornets)2026 link ↗

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

Richard Bowling Elementary School