Willoughby Early Childhood Center

181 Students

Pre Kindergarten Pre-K - Pre-K

School Overview

Willoughby Early Childhood Center, located in the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk, Virginia, serves as a specialized educational facility dedicated to the foundational years of a child’s development. As part of the Norfolk Public Schools district, the center focuses on providing high-quality preschool and early learning experiences. Its curriculum is designed to foster social, emotional, and cognitive growth, aiming to prepare young students for a successful transition into elementary school by emphasizing play-based learning and early literacy and numeracy skills.

The school is noted for its community-oriented atmosphere, benefiting from its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding residential neighborhood. By maintaining a nurturing environment tailored specifically to toddlers and preschoolers, Willoughby Early Childhood Center prioritizes small-group interactions and individualized instruction. This approach helps create a supportive setting where children can build early confidence, develop essential interpersonal skills, and cultivate a lifelong curiosity for learning in their earliest academic years.

181

Total Students

19.0

Full-Time Teachers

9.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

98.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Willoughby Early Childhood Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	36
Hispanic	46
Black	69
Asian	5
Two or More	22
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

Black
69 (38.1%)
Hispanic
46 (25.4%)
White
36 (19.9%)
Two or More
22 (12.2%)
Asian
5 (2.8%)
American Indian
2 (1.1%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.6%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Pre Kindergarten
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Norfolk City Public Schools
Phone:	(757)531-3127
Grade Range:	Pre-K - Pre-K
Total Students:	181
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	9.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	178
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

Pre-Kindergarten 181