Ruffner Middle School, Norfolk, VA

Score breakdown

Compared against all 337 Virginia public middle schools. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.

1.0 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 31.4% across all subjects — 0th percentile statewide.

1.0 · Academic progress

Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which credits schools for student growth — 0th percentile.

1.5 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 26.6% — better attendance than 5% of peers statewide.

Test scores by subject

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

This school Virginia average

Civics & Econ

36%state 72%

Grade 8 Science

31%state 68%

Grade 6 Mathematics

27%state 65%

Grade 7 Mathematics

17%state 62%

Grade 8 Mathematics

22%state 63%

Grade 6 English Reading

37%state 73%

Grade 7 English Reading

39%state 73%

Grade 8 English Reading

39%state 74%

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

Ruffner Middle School & its school zone

Ruffner Middle School serves Norfolk, VA 23504 students as a public middle school in Norfolk Public Schools. Buyers searching homes for sale near Ruffner Middle School are shopping this Norfolk school zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Norfolk middle school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 1.1/10 — below the state average among Virginia's 337 public middle schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 31.4%. Virginia's accreditation measures — which credit schools for student growth, not just pass rates — come in at 46% for English and 39% for Math. Chronic absenteeism is 26.6%, compared with the 15.2% state median for middle schools.

For house hunters comparing Norfolk school zones, the listings on this page show active REIN MLS homes near Ruffner Middle 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: 3-8
School type: Public
Principal: Tracey K. Flemings
Established: 1922 · this campus 1993
Mascot & colors: Bulldogs
Enrollment: 576 students (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio: 12:1
Classroom teachers: 47 FTE
Accreditation: Conditionally Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510267001134

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

38%

Mathematics

25%

Science

27%

History & Social Sci.

35%

Attendance

2024-2025

32.6% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About Ruffner Middle School

Ruffner Academy (officially William H. Ruffner Academy, also listed by NCES as Ruffner School) is a public school in the Norfolk City Public Schools division, located at 610 May Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia. The school was established in 1922 and is named for William Henry Ruffner (1824-1908), the designer and first superintendent of Virginia's public school system. In 1993 the school was rebuilt on a new site across the street from its original location.

Although commonly referred to as a middle school, the school serves grades 3 through 8. It sits in southeastern Norfolk and functions as a community-based neighborhood school within Norfolk City Public Schools. Athletic teams compete in the Norfolk Middle School Athletic League as the Ruffner Bulldogs.

Contact

Phone: (757) 628-2466
Office hours: Office hours 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; school day 8:15 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

Official school website ↗

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data - Ruffner School — NCES School ID, address, phone, grades 3-8, total enrollment 576, enrollment by grade, 47.0 FTE teachers, 12.26 student/teacher ratio, locale (City, Midsize), charter status2024-2025 link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles - Ruffner School — Accreditation status, SOL pass rates (Reading 38, Math 25, Science 27, History 35), demographics, chronic absenteeism 32.6%, principal2024-2025 (accreditation 2025-2026) link ↗
Ruffner Academy official website (Norfolk Public Schools) — Official name (William H. Ruffner Academy), principal, phone, office/school hours, mascot (Bulldogs), founding history 1922 / rebuilt 19932026 link ↗
Wikipedia - William Ruffner Middle School (disambiguation) — Confirms W.H. Ruffner Academy in Norfolk; namesake William Henry Ruffner context. No dedicated article, no photo, no championships/alumnin/a link ↗
Norfolk Middle School Athletic League / Ruffner Bulldogs — Confirms Bulldogs athletic identity2026 link ↗

Figures reflect the 2024-2025 (NCES CCD enrollment/staffing and Virginia School Quality Profiles metrics); accreditation 2025-2026 unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

Ruffner Middle School