Southwestern Elementary, Suffolk, 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.

6.5 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 76.6% across all subjects — 61th percentile statewide.

2.7 · Academic progress

Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which credits schools for student growth — 19th percentile.

3.6 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 14.4% — better attendance than 29% of peers statewide.

Test scores by subject

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

This school Virginia average

Grade 5 Science

79%state 69%

Virginia Studies

67%state 69%

Grade 3 Mathematics

81%state 73%

Grade 4 Mathematics

82%state 73%

Grade 5 Mathematics

78%state 71%

Grade 3 English Reading

73%state 67%

Grade 4 English Reading

73%state 73%

Grade 5 English Reading

77%state 72%

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

Southwestern Elementary & its school zone

A public elementary school in Suffolk Public Schools, Southwestern Elementary School anchors its attendance zone in Suffolk, VA 23437. Buyers searching homes for sale near Southwestern Elementary School are shopping this Suffolk school zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Suffolk elementary school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 4.8/10 — around 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 76.6%, with standout results in Grade 5 Science (79% vs a 69% state average). Virginia's accreditation measures — which credit schools for student growth, not just pass rates — come in at 81% for English and 80% for Math. Chronic absenteeism is 14.4%, compared with the 11.7% state median for elementary schools.

For house hunters comparing Suffolk school zones, the listings on this page show active REIN MLS homes near Southwestern Elementary School. School zoning and attendance boundaries can change between school years — always verify a specific address's assignment directly with Suffolk 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: Suffolk City Public Schools
Grades served: PK-5
School type: Public
Principal: Lori S. Mounie
Established: 1924
Mascot & colors: Mustang · Purple, White
Enrollment: 579 students (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio: 19:1
Classroom teachers: 31 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510371001629
Former name: Pioneer Elementary

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

75%

Mathematics

80%

Science

79%

History & Social Sci.

67%

Attendance

2024-2025

Consistent attenders

84%

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

About Southwestern Elementary

The school at 150 Pioneer Road in Suffolk, Virginia, operated for years as Pioneer Elementary School before the Suffolk School Board voted 4-3 in December 2020 to rename it Southwestern Elementary School, effective July 1, 2021. The change restored the historic 'Southwestern' name and recognized the site's role in educating Black students in rural southwestern Suffolk. Education on the site traces to 1924, when the Nansemond County Training School was built with seed funding tied to Sears, Roebuck and Co. leader Julius Rosenwald, whose fund financed schools for Black students across the rural South.

The school sits in a rural, distant section of southwestern Suffolk off U.S. Route 58 and Pioneer Road, and is one of the elementary schools operated by Suffolk City Public Schools. It serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 5, with a mascot of the Mustang and school colors of purple and white.

Contact

Phone: (757) 925-5782

Official school website ↗

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data — Southwestern Elementary (510371001629) — NCES ID, address, district, grades (PK-5), enrollment (579), teachers (31.00 FTE), student/teacher ratio (18.68), locale (Rural, Distant 42)2024-2025 (staffing/enrollment); 2025-2026 (directory) link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles — Southwestern Elementary — Accreditation (Fully Accredited SY2025-26), SOL pass rates, demographics, chronic absenteeism, principal, phone, enrollment2024-2025 / 2025-2026 link ↗
The Suffolk News-Herald — 'Board votes to rename Pioneer Elementary to Southwestern' — Name-change history, 4-3 board vote, 1924 Rosenwald-era origins, southwestern Suffolk setting2020 link ↗
The Suffolk News-Herald — 'Southwestern Elementary School returns' — Rename effective July 1, 2021; Pioneer Road / U.S. Route 58 location2021 link ↗
Southwestern Elementary School official website — Official website URL; Mustang mascot / 'Mustang Family' branding (website unreachable during this session; corroborated via school Facebook and search)2026 link ↗

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

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