Top Public Schools in Virginia Beach: A Look at the Education System and its Challenges
Public Schools in Virginia Beach
When moving to a new city, one of the primary considerations for families is what school district their children will attend. In Virginia Beach, the public schools have a great reputation.
The school board has been embroiled in a heated debate over LGBT issues. There have also been tense discussions about a mask mandate and access to books.
Ocean Lakes High School
If you are thinking of moving to Virginia Beach with your kids, then it’s important to know about the local schools. The city has some of the top public high schools in the state, so you can rest assured that your children’s education will be in good hands. The school’s ranking is based on its math and reading proficiency scores, which are measured by standardized tests administered to students.
Ocean Lakes is one of the newest high schools in Virginia Beach, serving students in grades nine through twelve. The high school offers a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities, including wrestling, scholarship bowl, football, and other clubs. The school also offers dual enrollment opportunities, allowing students to earn college credits while earning their high school diploma.
Located in the Green Run and Kellam neighborhoods, Ocean Lakes is the newest high school in Virginia Beach. It is expected to open this fall and will be the tenth high school in the city. The city also recently built a new Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake to help ease overcrowding at its other high schools.
Old Donation School
Old Donation School is a highly rated public magnet school located in Virginia Beach, VA. It has 1,304 students in grades 2-8 and a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. This school is in the top 1% of all schools in Virginia.
The school is a centralized, full-time gifted program serving identified students from all elementary and middle schools in the city. Identified students are placed in academic, visual arts or dance education programs. The academic program meets five days a week, while the arts programs meet one day per week.
In addition to the standard curriculum, teachers at Old Donation School use unique techniques to engage students and inspire a passion for learning. These include open-ended, conceptually based instruction and inquiry driven activities. Students are able to work on problems that are complex, interesting and relevant to their lives. Old Donation students are passionate and highly motivated to learn. They are challenged to think critically and creatively, and are encouraged to collaborate with their peers.
Renaissance Academy
Renaissance Academy is an alternative school that offers individualized student learning plans. It offers day and evening programs. The school provides an interdisciplinary academic curriculum that promotes self-determination and responsibility. In addition, it helps students develop leadership skills that are fundamental to their success.
The school is in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools district and serves 440 students in grades 6-12. Its teachers have had 3 projects funded on DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
Renaissance is all about appearances. They want to portray themselves as a diverse liberal high school for students of a certain caliber but are actually just thirsty for cash and accept every student who wants in. They don’t understand mental health issues and have no guidance counselors to help students with these problems. Also they use the term “bright future ivy leaguer” to describe their ideal student, but these are actually extremely rare at this school.
Advanced Technology Center
The Advanced Technology Center is a vocational school located at 1800 College Crescent in Virginia Beach, VA. It is part of the Virginia Beach City PBLC Schs district and serves students in grades 9 – 12. This school is classified as a public school and has a student-teacher ratio of 7:1.
Students who graduate from this school have the option to attend college, enter the workforce, or join the military. Students in many programs also earn industry certifications, which can help them advance in their careers. The program is highly regarded in the area and is worth checking out.
Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local funding than similar districts that serve mostly white students. This gap is called the achievement gap and it has a profound impact on students’ lives. Learn how you can close the gap with DonorsChoose, a teacher-founded nonprofit that’s trusted by teachers and donors everywhere.