Enrollment
561
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Newport News, VA
Discovery Stem Academy
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Stem Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510264001062
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Stem Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools.
- #14 of 27
- schools in Newport News · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 90.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Stem Academy has class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Stem Academy ranks #14 of 27 schools in Newport News, VA.
School address
District: Newport News City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510264001062 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
90.6%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+57% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Discovery Stem Academy compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Discovery Stem Academy
Discovery Stem Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Newport News, Virginia, enrolling 561 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 90.6% of students qualify for free meals, 57% above the Virginia average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 561 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 1,868 Virginia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 379 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #317, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly African American (82% of enrollment) (diversity index 32/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 422 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Newport News's public schools, it stands alongside Joseph H. Saunders Elementary (660 students): Discovery Stem Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 17.4:1).
Newport News City Public Schools also operates Woodside High (1,723 students) and Menchville High (1,707 students) alongside Discovery Stem Academy.
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 Discovery Stem Academy compares
Discovery Stem Academy on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.6% | ▲ 57% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 561 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
561
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
90.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Virginia - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,115
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
Counselors1.3 FTE
Per 422 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.1 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
African American 81.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.3%
Two or More 6.6%
White 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 81.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.2, Discovery Stem Academy is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Newport News City Public Schools, which includes Discovery Stem Academy.
$15,115
Per student
+3%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.8%
State 50.6%
Federal 17.7%
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 Discovery Stem Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Menchville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Warwick High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Denbigh High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Heritage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Stem Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,723
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,707
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,622
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,106
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Newport News
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Joseph H. Saunders Elementary
Standard public school
660 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Achievable Dream Academy
Standard public school
641 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Carver Elementary
Standard public school
634 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Kiln Creek Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Katherine Johnson Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Oliver C. Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
549 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~561 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Discovery Stem Academy's federal record.
- Compare Discovery Stem Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Newport News 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 Discovery Stem Academy
How many students attend Discovery Stem Academy?
Discovery Stem Academy has 561 students enrolled. It is a public school in Newport News, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Stem Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Stem Academy is 15.2:1, which is 9% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Stem Academy?
90.6% of students at Discovery Stem Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Stem Academy?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Stem Academy is African American at 81.5% of enrollment, in Newport News, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Stem Academy?
Discovery Stem Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Discovery Stem Academy rank among schools in Newport News?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Stem Academy ranks #14 of 27 schools in Newport News, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Newport News on the city page.
Is Discovery Stem Academy a good school?
Discovery Stem Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Virginia schools. 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 Newport News City Public Schools?
Besides Discovery Stem Academy, Newport News City Public Schools also operates Woodside High (1,723 students), Menchville High (1,707 students), and Warwick High (1,622 students). See the Newport News 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.