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GreatSchools Rating

William E. Waters Middle School

Public | 7-8 | 600 students

Community Rating

3 stars


Teacher quality

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2 reviews of this school


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Posted February 25, 2008

This is a great school. Everyone works hard and long to make sure our students are successful.
—Submitted by a teacher


Posted February 8, 2008

Small class sizes are great. I do not approve of not teaching the basics year round (i.e. Social Studies for 1 Semester..etc) and not having Art, TechEd - etc.
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
English: Reading

The state average for English: Reading was 88% in 2012.

284 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
79%

2011

 
 
85%

2010

 
 
82%

2009

 
 
84%

2008

 
 
85%
History and Social Science

The state average for History and Social Science was 88% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a
Math

The state average for Math was 58% in 2012.

136 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
19%

2011

 
 
55%

2010

 
 
52%

2009

 
 
62%

2008

 
 
55%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Virginia used the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests to assess students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, writing in grades 5 and 8, science in grades in 3, 5 and 8, and history in grades 3 through 8. The SOL tests are standards-based, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Virginia. The goal is for all students to pass the tests.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

English: Reading

The state average for English: Reading was 89% in 2012.

278 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
89%

2011

 
 
92%

2010

 
 
84%

2009

 
 
86%

2008

 
 
90%
English: Writing

The state average for English: Writing was 88% in 2012.

288 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
78%

2011

 
 
81%

2010

 
 
81%

2009

 
 
84%

2008

 
 
77%
History and Social Science

The state average for History and Social Science was 88% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a

2009

 
 
n/a

2008

 
 
n/a
Math

The state average for Math was 60% in 2012.

167 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
56%

2011

 
 
83%

2010

 
 
83%

2009

 
 
89%

2008

 
 
88%
Science

The state average for Science was 92% in 2012.

277 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
87%

2011

 
 
91%

2010

 
 
90%

2009

 
 
89%

2008

 
 
86%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Virginia used the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests to assess students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, writing in grades 5 and 8, science in grades in 3, 5 and 8, and history in grades 3 through 8. The SOL tests are standards-based, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Virginia. The goal is for all students to pass the tests.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

English: Reading

All Students79%
Female students79%
Male students79%
Black students73%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanic90%
White students85%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged76%
Not economically disadvantaged84%
Students with disabilities45%
Students without disabilities84%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English79%
Not migrant79%

History and Social Science

All Studentsn/a
Male studentsn/a
Black studentsn/a
Students identified as economically disadvantagedn/a
Not economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilitiesn/a
Proficient in Englishn/a
Not migrantn/a

Math

All Students19%
Female students20%
Male students18%
Black students11%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanicn/a
White students33%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged13%
Not economically disadvantaged30%
Students with disabilities10%
Students without disabilities22%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English19%
Not migrant19%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Virginia used the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests to assess students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, writing in grades 5 and 8, science in grades in 3, 5 and 8, and history in grades 3 through 8. The SOL tests are standards-based, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Virginia. The goal is for all students to pass the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the Virginia Department of Education. Data is not reported when there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

English: Reading

All Students89%
Female students92%
Male students85%
Black students87%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanicn/a
White students92%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged86%
Not economically disadvantaged93%
Students with disabilities53%
Students without disabilities94%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English89%
Not migrant89%

English: Writing

All Students78%
Female students88%
Male students68%
Black students74%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanicn/a
White students86%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged73%
Not economically disadvantaged87%
Students with disabilities31%
Students without disabilities87%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English78%
Not migrant78%

History and Social Science

All Studentsn/a
Male studentsn/a
Black studentsn/a
Students identified as economically disadvantagedn/a
Not economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilitiesn/a
Proficient in Englishn/a
Not migrantn/a

Math

All Students56%
Female students70%
Male students42%
Black students53%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanicn/a
White students58%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged55%
Not economically disadvantaged59%
Students with disabilities15%
Students without disabilities67%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English56%
Not migrant56%

Science

All Students87%
Female students88%
Male students85%
Black students84%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanicn/a
White students92%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged84%
Not economically disadvantaged91%
Students with disabilities44%
Students without disabilities93%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English87%
Not migrant87%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Virginia used the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests to assess students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, writing in grades 5 and 8, science in grades in 3, 5 and 8, and history in grades 3 through 8. The SOL tests are standards-based, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Virginia. The goal is for all students to pass the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the Virginia Department of Education. Data is not reported when there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

  • In 2009-2010, this school was rated "Fully Accredited".
  • In 2008-2009, this school was rated "Fully Accredited".
  • In 2007-2008, this school was rated "Fully Accredited".

About the tests


Virginia school accreditation ratings reflect student achievement on Standards of Learning (SOL) tests and other assessments in English, history/social science, math and science. The 2009-2010 ratings are based on passing rates on tests taken during the 2008-2009 school year or on overall achievement during the three most recent years. Schools are identified as either Fully Accredited, Accredited with Warning, Conditionally Accredited or Accreditation Denied.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

Algebra I

The state average for Algebra I was 75% in 2012.

193 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
64%

2011

 
 
99%

2010

 
 
98%

2009

 
 
n/a

2008

 
 
100%
Geometry

The state average for Geometry was 88% in 2010.

2010

 
 
95%

2009

 
 
n/a

2008

 
 
100%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Virginia used the Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course tests to assess students in reading, writing, math, science and history/social science subjects at the end of each course, regardless of the student's grade level. The SOL End-of-Course tests are standards-based, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Virginia. High school students must pass at least six SOL End-of-Course tests to graduate. The goal is for all students to pass the tests.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

Algebra I

All Students64%
Female students66%
Male students63%
Black students54%
Asian studentsn/a
Hispanicn/a
White students80%
Students identified as economically disadvantaged62%
Not economically disadvantaged67%
Students with disabilities42%
Students without disabilities66%
Limited English proficient studentsn/a
Proficient in English64%
Not migrant64%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Virginia used the Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course tests to assess students in reading, writing, math, science and history/social science subjects at the end of each course, regardless of the student's grade level. The SOL End-of-Course tests are standards-based, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Virginia. High school students must pass at least six SOL End-of-Course tests to graduate. The goal is for all students to pass the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the Virginia Department of Education. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Virginia's state standards

Source: Virginia Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 69% 26%
White 29% 57%
Hispanic 2% 9%
Asian/Pacific Islander 1% 6%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 53%N/A33%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 15N/A17
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

600 Roosevelt Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23701
Phone: (757) 558-2813

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