A Neighborhood in Transition
The Swanson Homes site itself, a former public housing community in Portsmouth's Prentis Park area, is currently vacant and being demolished as part of a redevelopment planned by the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority. [2](https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/portsmouth/swanson-homes-demolition-underway-in-portsmouth-after-housing-generations-of-families-for-80-years)
Because of that, this guide focuses on the schools that typically serve the surrounding Prentis Park neighborhood today, since that's the area families would actually be moving into in the near term.
Schools Serving the Prentis Park Area
Portsmouth Public Schools assigns students by home address, and homes in the Prentis Park section near the Swanson Homes site have commonly been zoned toward schools such as Douglass Park Elementary School, William E. Waters Middle School and I. C. Norcom High School, based on the schools serving this part of central Portsmouth. [3](https://www.ppsk12.us/o/dpes/) Douglass Park Elementary carries a GreatSchools rating of 1 out of 10 [4](https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/portsmouth/1302-Douglass-Park-Elementary-School/), William E. Waters Middle School carries a GreatSchools rating of 2 out of 10 [5](https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/portsmouth/1320-Wm.-E.-Waters-Middle-School/), and I.C. Norcom High School carries a GreatSchools rating of 2 out of 10 [6](https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/portsmouth/1307-I.C.-Norcom-High-School/).
I want to be direct that attendance zones can shift over time and can vary from block to block, so I have not treated this as a confirmed, address-specific boundary, and I'd rather point you to the source than guess.
Confirming Zoning Before You Buy
Before making an offer, contact Portsmouth Public Schools directly or use their published attendance zone information at [ppsk12.us](https://www.ppsk12.us) with the exact address you're considering. This is especially important here given the redevelopment happening nearby, which could eventually affect how the area is zoned or served.
If schools are your top priority, let me know early. I can help you compare this area against nearby options like Park View and Shea Terrace based on verified school zoning.
For a fuller picture of what's happening with the Swanson Homes redevelopment and what it means for nearby buyers and sellers, see my buying guide and selling guide, or start with my Portsmouth city overview.
