Skip To Main Content

Family and Student Wellness Expo, Bayside High School Stadium, June 3, 2023, Noon to 3 PM, 4960 Haygood Rd, Virginia Beach

The Virginia Beach School Board received information about proposed federal grant applications at its May 9 meeting. For the 2023-24 school year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) would receive approximately $16.3 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).

2023-24 federal grant information presented to Virginia Beach School Board

The Virginia Beach School Board received information about proposed federal grant applications at its May 9 meeting. For the 2023-24 school year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) would receive approximately $16.3 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).

Virginia Beach City Public Schools Music Education Program Receives National Recognition

For the 14th straight year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools Model Partner

Students and staff of Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) benefit from the support of over 1,000 community partners each year. Partnerships between community groups, businesses and schools are integral to public education in Virginia Beach. These partnerships are mutually supportive. They improve student wellness while enriching the relationship between schools, businesses, government agencies, faith-based groups and other organizations.

Program Offerings

African American Male Summit

The African American Male Summit (AAMS) is an annual program to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program is open to males in grades 5-12 along with their parents and community partners. Participants engage in breakout sessions focused on academic excellence, teambuilding and leadership development. The program provides an opportunity for parents to learn about division initiatives and community resources. Participants are exposed to historically black universities and other post-secondary opportunities through an extensive exhibition. This year’s summit yielded 600 students that pre-registered to attend, which is the largest number of pre-registrants in the past two years. The AAMS was highlighted in the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) 24th annual VSBA Showcases for Success directory, highlighting successful K-12 programs in Virginia's public schools. Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) was one of 44 school divisions from across the Commonwealth that had been featured.

Beach Girls Rock Empowerment Series

Beach Girls Rock (BGR) is an empowerment series offered three times during the school year for girls in grades 5-8. The workshops are hosted and planned by high school students, staff and and division-wide committee. The high school leaders plan and facilitate the sessions with the support of staff. BGR is designed to develop and enhance and empower girls to become strong, successful women emotionally and academically. The series provides opportunities for girls to identify themselves as valuable, powerful, and capable young women in their respective schools and community.

Black History Initiative

The Black History Initiative (BHI) is a diverse team of students, educators, parents and community partners focused on exploring and understanding the lived experiences of black residents of Virginia Beach. BHI shares the information they gain through awareness events and social media platforms. Additionally, the BHI team participates in leadership opportunities, service-learning experiences, community outreaches, research opportunities, and other pathways to build inclusivity through validation and affirmation of all cultures. The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was awarded the Beneath the Surface grant from Virginia Humanities and Hampton Roads Community Foundation for the BHI team to explore, understand and communicate a multi-faceted project focused on the 38 alumni who were eligible to integrate Virginia Beach Public Schools in 1962.

Diversity Ambassadors Workshop

Diversity Ambassadors Workshop (DAW) offers an opportunity to provide cultural awareness knowledge, skills and tools to our middle and high school students, alongside club advisors in Virginia Beach City Public Schools. The engaging DAW activities support the goals of our School Board and division’s core values based on a culture of respect for every student, every day. Students who successfully complete the workshop have the tools to lead as Diversity Ambassadors and will work within their school and community to become models and champions of cultural diversity. The DAW is provided in partnership with Tidewater Community College (Norfolk) through planning, facilitation and evaluation.

Making Waves Mentoring Program

The Making Waves Mentoring Program ensures that all students benefit from an educational experience that fosters their social and emotional development. The program provides central office staff a unique opportunity to mentor a student across our 86 schools and centers to support students’ social/behavioral/emotional growth during an entire school year. During the 2019-2020 school years, fifteen Making Waves mentors were selected to participate in this program. Our mentors commit to spending at least two hours a month with their assigned mentee on school grounds.