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2026-27 federal grant information presented to Virginia Beach School Board

The Virginia Beach School Board received information about proposed federal grant applications at its May 12 meeting. For the 2026-27 school year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) would receive approximately $18.9 million in formula grant funds through programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA).

Logo Virginia Beach City Public Schools Charting the Course

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released Standard of Learning (SOL) pass rate data on Aug. 27. The overall SOL pass rates for Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) exceeded the state pass rates in all subject areas.

Gifted Intellectual Program

VBCPS identifies students in the areas of:

  • General Intellectual Aptitude (advanced aptitudes demonstrated by skills and creative expression in general intellectual ability); and
  • Visual and Performing Arts Aptitude (specific aptitudes in selected visual or performing arts demonstrated by skills and creative expression and excelling consistently in the development of a product or performance in any of the visual and/or performing arts).

The application for students currently enrolled in grades 1-7 will be available in the fall. The application deadline for students in grades 2-7 is Jan. 8, 2024 at 4 p.m. The application deadline for students in grade 1 is Mar. 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools identifies students for Gifted Visual Arts and Gifted Dance and General Intellectual Aptitude (GIA). Students in grades 2-12 may apply for the following programs:

Oct. 9, 2026

The application window opens for the Gifted Resource-Cluster Program and Old Donation School.

Gifted Application Grades 2 - 12 for VBCPS Students

(The Non-VBCPS application will be available on Oct. 9, 2026)

Nov. 19, 2026
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Old Donation School Academic Information Night for students currently in grades 2-7

4633 Honeygrove Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Jan. 6, 2027 Deadline: Resource-cluster program and Old Donation School applications due by 5 p.m. for students currently in grades 3-7

Deadline: Resource-cluster program applications due by 5 p.m. for students currently in grade 8
Feb. 5, 2027 Deadline: Resource-cluster program and Old Donation School applications due by 5 p.m. for students currently in grade 2
Feb. 2027

Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grades 3-8

Decisions emailed no later than March 2, 2027

Mar. 5, 2027 DEADLINE: Resource-cluster program applications due by 5 p.m. for students currently in grades 9-12
Mar. 2027

ODS Rating Committee meeting for applicants in rising grades 6-8

Ratings emailed no later than March 9, 2027

ODS Rating Committee meeting for applicants in rising grades 4-5

Ratings emailed no later than March 23, 2027

Apr. 2027

Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grade 2

Decisions emailed no later than May 4, 2027

May 2027

ODS Rating Committee meeting for applicants in rising grade 3

Ratings emailed no later than May 11, 2027

Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grades 9-12

Decisions emailed no later than June 2, 2027

Identification and Placement Information

The Gifted Identification and Placement Committee carefully reviews each applicant’s profile to determine eligibility for gifted services. The components of the applicant profile are:

  • Teacher Checklist
  • Record Review of Achievements 
  • Test Scores
  • Anecdotal Records from teacher and/or GRT
  • Student Interview (students in grades 6-12 only)

Applicants who are found eligible for general intellectual aptitude (GIA) services by the Gifted Identification and Placement Committee are placed in the gifted resource-cluster program the following school year.

Applicants who have applied for consideration for enrollment at Old Donation School (ODS) are also reviewed by the ODS Rating Committee. The committee completes a holistic evaluation of the applicant’s profile and uses the following 5 to 1 rating scale, with 5 being the highest recommendation:

  1. 5 - exceptionally strong in all the application components
  2. 4 - strong in most of the application components
  3. 3 - shows strength in some application components, but not consistently strong
  4. 2 - few consistent areas of strength
  5. 1 - does not demonstrate strengths in most areas; may not be successful in the program

Selection for enrollment is based on open seats and the rating assigned by the ODS Rating Committee. No single criterion determines an applicant's rating, and there is no guarantee a specific rating will result in enrollment at ODS. Applicants not selected for enrollment at ODS remain in the gifted resource-cluster program.

The application process can take up to 90 instructional days. Parents/guardians receive notification of committee decisions via email. Once a student is identified for gifted program services in VBCPS, that identification remains in place until graduation.

Contact Us

For more information regarding the identification and placement process, you can review the Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted or contact the Gifted Testing Office at 757-263-6870 or giftedtesting@vbschools.com.