Enrollment
739
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Norfolk, VA
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Federal NCES profile for Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 510267003018
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 90
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in Norfolk · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 97.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Norfolk, VA.
School address
District: Norfolk City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510267003018 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
50.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
97.9%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+70% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Academy for Discovery at Lakewood compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Norfolk, Virginia, enrolling 739 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 97.9% of students qualify for free meals, 70% above the Virginia average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 739 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 208 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #15, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and African American (30%) (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 370 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance holds up well here: only 4.1% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Its district draws 19.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Norfolk's elementary schools, it stands alongside Southside Stem Academy at Campostella (686 students): Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.8:1 vs 11.8:1).
Norfolk City Public Schools also operates Granby High (1,980 students) and Matthew Fontaine Maury High (1,713 students) alongside Academy for Discovery at Lakewood.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Academy for Discovery at Lakewood compares
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.9% | ▲ 70% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 739 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
739
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
97.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 66% in Virginia - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
4.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$15,139
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 370 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 41 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 49.4%
African American 30.2%
Two or More 8.8%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
Asian 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 49.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Norfolk City Public Schools, which includes Academy for Discovery at Lakewood.
$15,139
Per student
+3%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.5%
State 46.2%
Federal 19.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Academy for Discovery at Lakewood Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granby High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Matthew Fontaine Maury High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Norview High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Norview Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blair Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Academy for Discovery at Lakewood's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,980
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,585
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,196
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,141
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar elementary schools in Norfolk
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Southside Stem Academy at Campostella
Standard public school
686 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Lake Taylor
Standard public school
664 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Ocean View Elementary
Standard public school
512 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Ghent K-8
Standard public school
501 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Tidewater Park Elementary
Standard public school
124 students 9.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~739 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Academy for Discovery at Lakewood's federal record.
- Compare Academy for Discovery at Lakewood against another school. Compare schools
- Norfolk City Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
How many students attend Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood has 739 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Norfolk, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
The student-teacher ratio at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is 14.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
97.9% of students at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
The largest demographic group at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood is White at 49.4% of enrollment, in Norfolk, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Academy for Discovery at Lakewood?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Academy for Discovery at Lakewood rank among elementary schools in Norfolk?
By Resource Investment Index, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Norfolk, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Norfolk on the city page.
Is Academy for Discovery at Lakewood a good school?
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Norfolk City Public Schools?
Besides Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, Norfolk City Public Schools also operates Granby High (1,980 students), Matthew Fontaine Maury High (1,713 students), and Norview High (1,585 students). See the Norfolk City Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.