Education

Those who move with their children to a new location are eager to know about the school system, private schools, homeschooling, libraries, special education, higher education, vocational education and technical training, and anything else that will help their children and themselves navigate life better. Fifteen public school districts serve Virginia children in the Hampton Roads area, and additionally, there are numerous private schools and homeschooling.

To be enrolled in Virginia, a child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 of the school year. Those wishing to register a child for school should bring the following to the school office: an official certified copy of the birth certificate (not a photocopy), or a sworn statement of the child’s age, with an explanation of why the certified birth certificate cannot be provided; the child’s street address; the three-part School Entrance Health Form (MCH 213F) completed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant indicating that the child has had a full physical exam within 12 months of entering school; proof of the following vaccine immunizations: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP, DTP); hepatitis B; human papillomavirus (HPV); measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); polio; tetanus, diphtheria and a cellular pertussis (Tdap); and varicella (chickenpox); the child’s Social Security number; and a sworn statement from the parent if the child has been previously expelled that must reveal if the expulsion involved weapons, alcohol or drugs, or deliberate injury to another person. Don’t forget to bring a current report card or withdrawal form if the child is transferring from another school district. Each district’s website will have details such as registration dates.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
City of Chesapeake .................. (757) 547-0153
www.cpsschools.com
In the City of Chesapeake, the state’s third largest city with more than 199,000 residents, urban areas alternate with protected farmland, forests, and wetlands, including a large part of the Great Dismal Swamp. The 28 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 17 high schools and special schools include Chesapeake Alternative, the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology, GATE/IRMA (Gifted and Talented Elementary/Indian River Middle Annex), the Edwards-Wilson Center for special education and the SECEP pre-school facility.

City of Franklin ......................(757) 569-8111
www.franklincity.k12.va.us
The City of Franklin, population 9,400, has three public schools — an elementary, a middle and a high school — that serve about 1,300 students. The city began as a railroad stop in the 1830s, but with increased agriculture and manufacturing is now the 13th most profitable and 12th largest farming community in the state.

City of Hampton ......................(757) 727-2030
www.sbo.hampton.k12.va.us
There are 19 elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools in Hampton. Among its special schools are the Armstrong School for the Arts, the Cooper Elementary Magnet School for Technology, the International Baccalaureate Program at Burbank Elementary, two fundamental schools, the Moton Early Childhood Center, and pre-kindergarten for 4-year-old students at risk. The fi rst free public school in America, the Syms-Eaton Academy, was established in Hampton in 1634. Later renamed Hampton Academy it was incorporated into the public school system in 1852. Hampton’s 137,436 residents make it the sixth largest city in Virginia. It has a proud military history.

City of Newport News ..............(757) 591-4500
www.sbo.nn.k12.va.us
Maritime trades because of its huge natural port dominate Newport News, population 180,700, which starts education with five early childhood centers and has as well 24 elementary schools, eight middle schools, six high schools and a number of special schools. These include an aviation academy; the highly structured Enterprise Academy; two New Horizons locations with the multiple missions of workforce training, inspiring would-be scientists and engineers, and treating young people with disabilities; Point Option for nontraditional students; a telecommunications center that teaches college-level video and television skills to high school juniors and seniors; an adult and continuing education division for those seeking a GED, an External Diploma or help with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); and classes for those in juvenile detention.

City of Norfolk .........................(757) 628-3834
www.nps.k12.va.us
Thirty-three elementary schools feed into eight middle schools in the Norfolk district, population 242,803, the state’s second largest city, and from thence into fi ve high schools. Innovative special schools include an early childhood education center, a pre-school; Camp E.W. Young, which links children to nature; the Hospital Education Program that ensures that hospitalized or homebound children don’t miss out on schooling; the Madison Alternative Center; the Norfolk Technical Center that helps its attendees obtain an adult GED and also hosts the Central School of Practical Nursing; Granby High Evening School; and the Norstar Gifted and Talented Program. Norfolk, a commercial and cultural center, was the first East Coast city declared “Tsunami Ready.”

City of Poquoson ......................(757) 868-3055
www.poquoson.k12.va.us
Poquoson Primary School serves kindergartners through second graders with reading, math, science, social studies and spelling, and there is besides a reversed mainstream preschool class plus classes in art, music, P.E., library and computer lab, a no-bullying program and the “Peaceful Bus” initiative that encourages all students to behave. The elementary school comprises grades three through five and adds care for the environment to a stringent core curriculum. The middle school introduces foreign languages, chorus, drama and an emphasis on public service for its 600 students, and high school students cluster their courses individually based on their career and education goals around a demanding required curriculum. Special education courses and GED options also are available. The schools in this community of a little more than 12,000, whose Algonquian name means roughly “Big Swamp,” rank among the best in the state.

City of Portsmouth ..................(757) 393-8742
www.pps.k12.va.us
In Portsmouth, the district’s 15,000 students are divided among four Pre-K Centers, 13 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, an alternative school, an adult learning center, and the Career and Technical Education Office at the Portsmouth Campus of Tidewater Community College. The town, population 95,535, boasts miles of waterfront, a ferry and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

City of Suffolk ..........................(757) 925-6750
www.spsk12.net
Suffolk schools have a student-to-teacher ratio of 25 to 1 and a student-to-computer ratio of 2.2 to 1 for their 14,373 students divided among a dozen elementary, four middle and three high schools. Special services include programs for the gifted from elementary through high school, including art, music and the Tidewater Governor’s Summer School for Science and Technology. The special education options are devoted to serving children with disabilities age 2 to 21 and include an autism cadre and an early childhood resource center. From its founding Suffolk has been a transportation gateway, and in more modern times, a peanut processing center.

City of Virginia Beach ............(757) 263-1000
www.vbschools.com
With 69,282 students in grades K-12, Virginia Beach has the largest public school system in Hampton Roads — for example, the district’s 601 buses carry students a total of 48,790 miles each day, to and from its 56 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, 11 high schools, and numerous secondary and post-secondary specialty centers, including the Renaissance Academy, Advanced Technology Center, Technical and Career Education Center and Adult Learning Center. The district’s sheer size has inspired it to actively conserve resources, protect the environment and promote sustainability. Just from September 2008 to June 2012, the schools have kept 4,531 tons out of the waste stream, the equivalent of 82,771 trees, 1.8 million gallons of oil, 14,607 cubic yards of landfill space, 19.5 million kilowatts of energy (enough to power 2,435 homes for a year) or 34 million gallons of water.

Gloucester County ...................(804) 693-5300
www.gloucesterva.info/Home/Education
The mascot of Gloucester County High School is the Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles II, after whom the county was named in 1651. Its riches always have lain in fishing, farming and flowers — it’s known as the Daffodil Capitol of America — and it figures prominently in colonial history. Its students attend six elementary, two middle and one high school, which offer vocational and technical classes in addition to academics. Students can opt for advanced courses in language and mathematics and can take the latter two years before they’re required.

Isle of Wight County ................ (757) 357-4393
www.iwcs.k12.va.us
British colonists fanning out from Jamestown settled Isle of Wight County in the 1600s, and its current overall population of a little over 35,000 includes 5,500 students who attend five elementary, two middle and two high schools. Special education courses are available and embrace the goal of providing each student with the most appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. There’s also a Parent Resource Center, a gifted program, English as a Second Language (ESL) and the New Directions Alternative Center. The county has two incorporated towns, Smithfield and Windsor, and its original courthouse, still standing along with its associated tavern and inn, was built in Smithfield in 1750.

Southampton County ..............(757) 653-2692
www.southampton.k12.va.us
Southampton County was the site of Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion, and the county today has 18,570 residents. More than 2,900 of these are grade PK through 12 students in the county’s four elementary, one middle and one high school. The district also has a strong adult education and literacy outreach, and the Southampton Technical Career Center.

Williamsburg-James
City County ............................. (757) 603-6400
www.wjcc.k12.va.us
James City County is one of only five original shires of Virginia that exists today in the same political form as at its founding in 1634, though now it’s a county instead of a shire. Historic sites from Williamsburg to the Jamestowne Settlement and Busch Gardens Williamsburg Theme Park guarantee tourism, and an increasing number of the 67,000-plus residents are retirees. More than 10,750 students attend one of Williamsburg-James City County’s nine elementary, three middle and three high schools, which in 2012-13 enjoyed a $112.5 million operating budget. Almost 74 percent of that went to instruction. With one exception, Warhill High School, all the schools had 17 or fewer students per full-time equivalent teacher. The Virginia average is 17-1.

York County ........................... (757) 898-0300
www.yorkcountyschools.org
York County, founded in 1634, is one of the oldest counties in the U.S., and its county seat, Yorktown, is most famous as the place the British Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. George Washington in 1781 to end the American Revolutionary War. Almost 65,500 people live in this bedroom community for Hampton and Newport News. The median household income, $84,167, was the highest in the Hampton Roads region in 2010. The county has 11 elementary, five middle and six high schools, and encourages all members of the community to get involved in the school system through volunteer, business partner and foundation activities. There are gifted, fi ne arts, virtual learning, and International Baccalaureate programs.

CHARTER SCHOOLS
Hampton Harbour Academy
(grades 6-8)
23 Semple Farm Road
Hampton, VA 23666 ................. (757) 727-2760
www.hha.sbo.hampton.k12.va.us

York River Academy
(grades 9-12)
9300 George Washington Memorial Highway Yorktown, VA 23692 ................(757) 898-0516
www.edline.net/pages/YRA

PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Catholic Diocese of Richmond
7800 Carousel Lane
Richmond, VA 23294 ............... (804) 359-5661
www.richmonddiocese.org
www.richmonddiocese.org/cdr/school/search
Catholic schools in the Hampton Roads area are overseen by the Richmond diocese.

Hampton Roads Association of Christian Schools
www.hracs.org
More than 20 members belong to the Hampton Roads Association of Christian Schools.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce,
www.hamptonroadschamber.com, and the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, www. virginiapeninsulachamber.com, also list private schools in their membership directories.

HOMESCHOOL
The State of Virginia has specific guidelines for those wishing to homeschool children. The 2012 rules are at www.doe.virginia.gov/students_parents/private_home/home_instruction/home_instruction_handbook.pdf.

Virginia Homeschool Group
www.vahomeschoolers.org/support
This organization of Virginia homeschoolers provides links to resources and serves as a forum.

UNIVERSITIES/HIGHER EDUCATION
Atlantic University
215 67th St.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 .........(757) 631-8101
www.atlanticuniv.edu

Christopher Newport University
1 University Place
Newport News, VA 23606 ........(757) 594-7000
www.cnu.edu

College of William and Mary
102 Richmond Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185 ..........(757) 221-4000
www.wm.edu

Eastern Virginia Medical School
700 West Olney Road
Norfolk, VA 23507 .................. (757) 446-5600
www.evms.edu

Hampton University
100 E. Queen St.
Hampton, VA 23668 .................(757) 727-5000
www.hamptonu.edu

National Institute of Aerospace
100 Exploration Way
Hampton, VA 23666 .................(757) 325-6700
www.nianet.org

Norfolk State University
700 Park Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23504 .................. (757) 823-8600
www.nsu.edu

Old Dominion University
5115 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529 ....................(757) 683-3000
www.odu.edu

Regent University
1000 Regent University Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 ....... (757) 352-4127
www.regent.edu
 
Virginia Wesleyan College
1584 Wesleyan Drive
Norfolk, VA 23502 ...................(757) 455-3200
www.vwc.edu

COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Paul D. Camp Community College
(Smithfi eld, Suffolk and Franklin)
100 N. College Drive
Franklin, VA 23851 ..................(757) 569-6700
www.pdc.edu

Tidewater Community College
(Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and
Virginia Beach)
315 Granby St.
Norfolk, VA 23510 .....................(757) 822-1110
www.tcc.edu  

Thomas Nelson Community College
(Hampton and Williamsburg)
99 Thomas Nelson Drive
Hampton, VA 23666 .................(757) 825-2700
www.tncc.edu

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
Apprentice School of Shipbuilding
4101 Washington Ave.
Newport News, VA 23607 ........(757) 380-3809
www.apprenticeschool.com

Bryant and Stratton Colleges
4410 Claiborne Square, Suite 233
Hampton, VA 23666 ................ (757) 896-6001
www.bryantstratton.edu
301 Centre Pointe Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23462 .......(757) 499-7900
www.bryantstratton.edu

Culinary Institute of Virginia
2428 Almeda Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23513 .................... (757) 858-2433
www.chefva.com

ECPI University
5555 Greenwich Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23462 ...... (866) 499-0336
www.ecpi.edu  

ITT Technical Institute
863 Glenrock Road, Suite 100
Norfolk, VA 23502-3701 .........(757) 466-1260
...................................................(888) 253-8324
www.itt-tech.edu

BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOLS
Bethel College
1705 Todds Lane
Hampton, VA 23666 ................. (757) 826-1426
www.bethel-college.com

Canaan Theological College & Seminary
1100 West Queen St.
Hampton, VA 23669 ................. (757) 722-5358
www.ctsc-online.org

Central Baptist Theological Seminary
2221 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 ....... (757) 479-3706
www.baptistseminary.edu

Gateway Christian College
5473 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462 ......(757) 499-6551
www.gatewaychristiancollege.com

John Leland Center for Theological Studies
12716 Warrick Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23606 ....... (757) 930-3150
www.leland.edu

Providence Bible College &
Theological Seminary
3300 Tidewater Drive
Norfolk, VA 23509 ...................(757) 625-7996
www.pbcts.edu

Tabernacle Baptist Bible College &
Theological Seminary
717 Whitehurst Landing Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 ..... (757) 424-4673
www.tbbcts.org

HAMPTON ROADS PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Libraries offer learning, recreation and connection for free to their users, and the Hampton Roads area has public libraries in almost every municipality to serve readers.

Blackwater Regional Library
Walter C. Rawls Library (main)
22511 Main St.

Courtland, VA 23837 (Nine branch libraries serving Franklin, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry and Sussex)
................................................... (757) 653-2821
www.blackwaterlib.org

Chesapeake Central Library (main)
298 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
(Six branch libraries) ................ (757) 410-7100
www.chesapeake.lib.va.us

Hampton Public Library
Charles H. Taylor Memorial Library (main)
4207 Victoria Blvd.
Hampton, VA 23669
(Four branch libraries) .............. (757) 727-1312
www.hamptonpubliclibrary.org

Newport News Public Library System
(administration)
700 Town Center Drive, Suite 300
Newport News, VA 23606
(Four branch libraries and a law library)
...................................................(757) 926-1350
www.nngov.com/library/about

Norfolk Public Libraries
Kim Memorial Library
(main: closed for construction)
235 E. Plume St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(Eleven branch libraries, a bookmobile and the Sargeant Memorial Collection)
...................................................(757) 664-7323
www.npl.lib.va.us

Poquoson Public Library
500 City Hall Ave.
Poquoson, VA 23662 ................(757) 868-3060
www.poquoson-va.gov/library

Portsmouth Central Library
601 Court St.
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(Three branch libraries) ............(757) 393-8501
www.portsmouth-va-public-library.com

Suffolk Public Library System
Morgan Memorial Library
443 W. Washington St.
Suffolk, VA 23434
(Two branch libraries and a bookmobile)
................................................... (757) 514-7323
www.suffolk.lib.va.us

Virginia Beach Central Library
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Wesley Farnsworth
(Five community libraries, three neighborhood libraries, a public law library and a bookmobile
...................................................(757) 385-0150
www.vbgov.com/dept/library

Williamsburg Regional Library
515 Scotland St.
Williamsburg, VA 23188 ......... (757) 259-4070
www.wrl.org
 
James City County Library
(part of Williamsburg Regional Library)
7770 Croaker Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188 .......... (757) 259-7770
www.wrl.org
 
York County Library/Tabb Library
100 Long Green Blvd.
Yorktown, VA 23693
...................................................(757) 890-5100
www.yorkcounty.gov/library

Yorktown Library
(part of York County Library System)
8500 George Washington Memorial Highway
Yorktown, VA 23692 ...............(757) 890-3377
www.yorkcounty.gov/library