Enrollment
967
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chesapeake, VA
Oscar Smith Middle
Federal NCES profile for Oscar Smith Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510081000310
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Oscar Smith Middle earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Virginia schools.
- #5 of 10
- middle schools in Chesapeake · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 89.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Oscar Smith Middle has class sizes smaller than 88% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Oscar Smith Middle ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Chesapeake, VA.
School address
District: Chesapeake City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510081000310 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
88.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
89.8%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
+56% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Oscar Smith Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Oscar Smith Middle
Oscar Smith Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Chesapeake, Virginia, enrolling 967 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11:1, Oscar Smith Middle is leaner than roughly 88% of Virginia schools and 21% under the state's 13.9:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 89.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 967 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 186 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #49.
Its student body is led by African American (64%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 322 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Discipline events run high: 296 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 967 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Chesapeake's middle schools, it stands alongside Great Bridge Middle (1,309 students): Oscar Smith Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11:1 vs 15.4:1).
Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students) and Oscar F. Smith High (2,264 students) alongside Oscar Smith Middle.
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 Smith Middle compares
Oscar Smith Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11:1 | ▼ 21% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 89.8% | ▲ 56% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 967 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11:1
Leaner classes than 83% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
967
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
89.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
11:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 12% in Virginia - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.9%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 322 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
105
in-school suspensions + 191 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 30.6 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 64.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
White 11.7%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 64.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.1, Oscar Smith Middle is about as mixed as the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chesapeake City Public Schools, which includes Oscar Smith Middle.
$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 Smith Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oscar F. Smith High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Branch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Deep Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian River High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Oscar Smith Middle'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
- 2,264
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- 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
Similar middle schools in Chesapeake
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Great Bridge Middle
Standard public school
1,309 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Hugo a. Owens Middle
Standard public school
1,286 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Hickory Middle
Standard public school
1,285 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Western Branch Middle
Standard public school
855 students 13:1 students per teacher
Greenbrier Middle
Standard public school
788 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Deep Creek Middle
Standard public school
764 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~967 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Oscar Smith Middle's federal record.
- Compare Oscar Smith Middle 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 Smith Middle
How many students attend Oscar Smith Middle?
Oscar Smith Middle has 967 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chesapeake, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Oscar Smith Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Oscar Smith Middle is 11:1, which is 21% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 30% 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 Smith Middle?
89.8% of students at Oscar Smith Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Oscar Smith Middle?
The largest demographic group at Oscar Smith Middle is African American at 64.2% of enrollment, in Chesapeake, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Oscar Smith Middle?
Oscar Smith Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Oscar Smith Middle rank among middle schools in Chesapeake?
By Resource Investment Index, Oscar Smith Middle ranks #5 of 10 middle 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 middle schools in Chesapeake on the city page.
Is Oscar Smith Middle a good school?
Oscar Smith Middle earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% 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 Chesapeake City Public Schools?
Besides Oscar Smith Middle, Chesapeake City Public Schools also operates Grassfield High (2,345 students), Oscar F. Smith High (2,264 students), and Western Branch High (2,138 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.