Enrollment
2,264
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Chesapeake, VA
Oscar F. Smith High
Federal NCES profile for Oscar F. Smith High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510081000303
👥 S:T ratio 45
📚 AP courses 80
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Oscar F. Smith High earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia.
- #7 of 7
- high schools in Chesapeake · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 70.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Oscar F. Smith High has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Oscar F. Smith High ranks #7 of 7 high schools in Chesapeake, VA.
School address
District: Chesapeake City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510081000303 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
164.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.3%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Oscar F. Smith High compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Oscar F. Smith High
Oscar F. Smith High is a higher-need, large high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, enrolling 2,264 students.
At 13.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Virginia median, within a few percentage points of the 13.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 70.3% lands close to the Virginia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Virginia, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,264 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 26 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #16.
Its student body is led by African American (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (18%) (diversity index 64/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 16 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 323 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Chesapeake's high schools, it stands alongside Grassfield High (2,345 students): Oscar F. Smith High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.8:1 vs 15.6:1).
Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students) and Western Branch High (2,138 students) alongside Oscar F. Smith High.
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 Oscar F. Smith High compares
Oscar F. Smith High on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.3% | ▲ 22% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,264 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,264
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 51% in Virginia - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.1%
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
$13,740
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 323 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
184
in-school suspensions + 147 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
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 54.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%
White 17.1%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 54.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, Oscar F. Smith High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chesapeake City Public Schools, which includes Oscar F. Smith High.
$13,740
Per student
-6%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.1%
State 42.6%
Federal 10.3%
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 Oscar F. Smith High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassfield High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Branch High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Deep Creek High | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian River High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hickory High | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Oscar F. Smith High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,345
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 2,138
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,691
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,634
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 1,600
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar high schools in Chesapeake
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Grassfield High
Standard public school
2,345 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Western Branch High
Standard public school
2,138 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Deep Creek High
Standard public school
1,691 students 15:1 students per teacher
Indian River High
Standard public school
1,634 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Hickory High
Standard public school
1,600 students 15:1 students per teacher
Great Bridge High
Standard public school
1,491 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,264 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Oscar F. Smith High's federal record.
- Compare Oscar F. Smith High against another school. Compare schools
- Chesapeake 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 Oscar F. Smith High
How many students attend Oscar F. Smith High?
Oscar F. Smith High has 2,264 students enrolled. It is a high school in Chesapeake, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Oscar F. Smith High?
The student-teacher ratio at Oscar F. Smith High is 13.8:1, which is 1% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Oscar F. Smith High?
70.3% of students at Oscar F. Smith High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Oscar F. Smith High?
The largest demographic group at Oscar F. Smith High is African American at 54.0% of enrollment, in Chesapeake, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Oscar F. Smith High?
Oscar F. Smith High has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Oscar F. Smith High rank among high schools in Chesapeake?
By Resource Investment Index, Oscar F. Smith High ranks #7 of 7 high schools in Chesapeake, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Chesapeake on the city page.
Is Oscar F. Smith High a good school?
Oscar F. Smith High earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia. 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 Chesapeake City Public Schools?
Besides Oscar F. Smith High, Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students), Western Branch High (2,138 students), and Deep Creek High (1,691 students). See the Chesapeake 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.