Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 45 schools in district

ACADEMY FOR DISCOVERY AT LAKEWOOD

1701 Alsace Ave, Norfolk, VA 23509Norfolk City Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 03–08Non-Charter
719
Students
Total enrolled
$15,957
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 11% vs nat'l
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 7% vs nat'l
38/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 23% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 719 students in grades 03–08 in Norfolk, Virginia.
11% above average funding
District spends $15,957 per pupil, 11% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 38th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

ACADEMY FOR DISCOVERY AT LAKEWOOD is a large middle in Norfolk, Virginia, serving grades 03–08 with 719 students. The district invests $15,957 per student — 11% above the national average of $14,347, with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 98% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 38/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at ACADEMY FOR DISCOVERY AT LAKEWOOD

719
Total Students
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
98%
Free Lunch
50
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (03–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution360 male · 359 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility98%
National avg 52% · 704 students
Student Composition
51%
32%
8%
Asian2%
White51%
Hispanic / Latino7%
Black32%
Multiracial8%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 510267003018

Academic Outcomes at ACADEMY FOR DISCOVERY AT LAKEWOOD

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
38
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 38th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 22th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 23509

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,957Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,957
State avg
$16,302
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,021
Student Support$3,032
Administration$1,915
Operations$2,394
Other$1,596
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,957 spent per student, an estimated $7,069 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
46%
35%
State government
46.2%
Local (property tax)
34.5%
Federal programs
19.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 98% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Crossroads PreK-8 SchoolSOUTHSIDE STEM ACADEMY AT CAMPOSTELLALittle Creek ElementaryLAKE TAYLOR
+16 more
↓
Middle
NORVIEW MIDDLEBLAIR MIDDLEAzalea Gardens MiddleNORTHSIDE MIDDLE
+1 more
↓
High School
NORVIEW HIGHGRANBY HIGHMatthew Fontaine Maury HighLAKE TAYLOR HIGH
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades03 – 08
Location—
CountyNorfolk city
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictNorfolk City Public Schools →
Phone: (757)628-2477
NCES ID: 510267003018
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Norfolk seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Norfolk City Public Schools
High
NORVIEW HIGH
1,915 students · 09–12
● 35 opp97% FRL
High
GRANBY HIGH
1,837 students · 09–12
● 31 opp94% FRL
High
Matthew Fontaine Maury High
1,697 students · 09–12
● 40 opp96% FRL
Mid
NORVIEW MIDDLE
1,259 students · 06–08
● 35 opp89% FRL
Mid
BLAIR MIDDLE
1,149 students · 06–08
● 40 opp92% FRL
High
LAKE TAYLOR HIGH
1,030 students · 09–12
92% FRL
High
Booker T Washington High
947 students · 09–12
● 31 opp94% FRL
Mid
Azalea Gardens Middle
848 students · 06–08
● 35 opp83% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1701 Alsace Ave, Norfolk, VA 23509
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.