ACADEMY FOR DISCOVERY AT LAKEWOOD

schools.nps.k12.va.us/afdl/

719 Students

Middle School 3rd - 8th

School Overview

The Academy for Discovery at Lakewood (ADL) is a specialized public magnet school located in Norfolk, Virginia, serving students in grades 3 through 8. As part of Norfolk Public Schools, the academy is renowned for its focus on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes. This framework emphasizes an inquiry-based learning approach that encourages students to become critical thinkers, global citizens, and lifelong learners who are capable of understanding complex connections between their local community and the wider world.

Beyond its rigorous academic curriculum, the school is characterized by a high level of parent involvement and a supportive community atmosphere. ADL places a strong emphasis on developing the "whole child," integrating technology and hands-on projects into daily instruction to foster both personal and academic growth. By prioritizing international-mindedness and collaborative problem-solving, the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood prepares its diverse student body for success in advanced high school programs and beyond.

719

Total Students

50.0

Full-Time Teachers

14.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

102.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for ACADEMY FOR DISCOVERY AT LAKEWOOD
Demographic	Student Count
White	364
Hispanic	47
Black	233
Asian	16
Two or More	58
American Indian	1

White
364 (50.6 %)
Black
233 (32.4 %)
Two or More
58 (8.1 %)
Hispanic
47 (6.5 %)
Asian
16 (2.2 %)
American Indian
1 (0.1 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Norfolk City Public Schools
Phone:	(757)628-2477
Website:	http://schools.nps.k12.va.us/afdl/
Grade Range:	3rd - 8th
Total Students:	719
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	50.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	739
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 3 93

Grade 4 98

Grade 5 90

Grade 6 157

Grade 7 146

Grade 8 135