A Guide to Schools in Virginia Beach, VA for Homebuyers

Buyers weighing the pros and cons of living in Virginia Beach, VA will find that the median home price sits around $431,000, and listings typically go under contract in roughly 25 days. In a market that moves that fast, most buyers I work with want to understand the school picture before they're writing offers - not after. That means knowing how the district draws its boundaries, where to find reliable ratings, and what questions to ask before you fall in love with a house.

This guide walks through the district basics, the public and private options, and exactly where to look up the numbers yourself.

Virginia Beach Schools at a Glance

Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) is the public school district covering the entire city. According to 2025-2026 directory data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the district operates 87 schools - down slightly from the 88 schools listed in the prior 2024-2025 NCES data. That kind of year-to-year fluctuation is normal for a district this size, but it's worth bookmarking the NCES data directly so you're working from current figures.

For ratings and individual school profiles, third-party sites like GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout are the places most buyers start. The Virginia Department of Education publishes state standardized test scores and annual report cards as well. Running both side by side gives you a more complete picture than either one alone.

District Ratings and State Scores

GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout pull together test scores, graduation rates, and equity data to produce a score for each school. Read the methodology on whichever platform you use - it matters, because the same school can look different depending on what a site weighs most. For the raw numbers on state assessments and accreditation status, go directly to the Virginia Department of Education.

Top-Rated Schools in Virginia Beach, VA

Which schools come out on top depends almost entirely on which metrics you care about. GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout both update their lists regularly based on academic progress and college readiness, and they're a reasonable starting point for narrowing your focus.

I can't point you toward specific neighborhoods based on school ratings - fair housing rules exist for good reason - but I can tell you that looking up the scores yourself on GreatSchools or the Virginia Department of Education website takes about ten minutes and gives you information that belongs to you. Read the full reports, not just the headline number.

Comparing Options Across the City

Some buyers want test scores. Others are looking for a specific academic track, a particular extracurricular, or a smaller student-to-teacher ratio. The state's official school quality profiles let you compare those figures across schools. Once you have a short list, you can match it against what's available in the Virginia Beach inventory right now.

Public High Schools in Virginia Beach, VA

VBCPS runs 12 public high schools. The full list: Bayside High School, Frank W. Cox High School, First Colonial High School, Floyd E. Kellam High School, Green Run Collegiate, Green Run High School, Kempsville High School, Landstown High School, Ocean Lakes High School, Princess Anne High School, Salem High School, and Tallwood High School. Each one has its own academic tracks and elective mix, so they're not interchangeable even within the same district.

Princess Anne High School, founded in 1954, is one of the older buildings in the city. Green Run Collegiate operates as a charter school within the district - a different structure than a standard neighborhood high school. For current rankings and academic standing on any of these, the Virginia Department of Education is the place to verify.

Athletics and High School Football

All VBCPS high schools compete in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Beach District, Eastern Region - with one exception: Ocean Lakes is listed under the VHSL Group 5A South Region. Athletic programs draw real community attendance here, and each school has its own identity to go with it. The Cox Falcons, Princess Anne Cavaliers, First Colonial Patriots, Bayside Marlins, Floyd E. Kellam Knights, Kempsville Chiefs, Ocean Lakes Dolphins, and Green Run Collegiate Stallions all compete across sports.

Elementary and Middle Schools in Virginia Beach, VA

The district spreads dozens of elementary and middle schools across the city's attendance zones, and students generally follow established feeder patterns as they move up through grade levels. The specific path matters - and it can shift when the district redraws boundaries - so always confirm grade bands and feeder routes directly with VBCPS rather than assuming last year's map still applies.

Feeder patterns aren't uniform across the city. Bayside High School pulls from Bayside Middle School and Independence Middle School. Princess Anne High School draws from Plaza Middle School, Old Donation School, and Independence Middle School. Floyd E. Kellam High School is fed by Princess Anne Middle School and Landstown Middle School. Those distinctions can affect which home makes sense for your family.

Citywide Draw Programs

Not every middle school feeds into a single neighborhood high school. Kempsville High School has a citywide draw program, meaning it accepts students from all Virginia Beach middle schools - not just those in a defined zone. If that kind of flexibility is on your list, check the district's application requirements and deadlines before assuming enrollment is automatic.

Private and Charter Schools in Virginia Beach, VA

Beyond the public system, Virginia Beach has private, parochial, and charter options. Green Run Collegiate sits within the public district framework as a charter school. Independent private and parochial schools run their own admissions processes, separate from VBCPS entirely.

Cape Henry Collegiate is a private, college-preparatory, co-educational day school established in 1924. For current tuition and enrollment information at any private school, you'll need to contact the institution directly - those numbers change, and the school's admissions office is the only reliable source.

Private School Tuition Rates

Tuition ranges widely across private institutions in the city. For reference, Cape Henry Collegiate's 2021-2022 tuition ran from $12,850 for Pre-Kindergarten up to $21,440 for grades 9-12. Those figures are a few years old at this point, so call the admissions office before building any numbers into your budget.

Mapping a Home to Its Assigned School

With roughly 1,180 homes currently on the market in Virginia Beach, pinning a specific address to its assigned school is standard due diligence - not optional. The district provides an interactive School Locator and Map Center at vbschools.com that covers elementary, middle, high, and citywide attendance zones. A GIS-based zone layer for the 2025-2026 high school attendance zones is also available through the city's data portal.

Boundary lines do shift. Verify the assigned schools for any specific address before you make an offer - not after you're under contract.

District Contacts and Calendars

The main district number is (757) 263-1007. The central office is at 2512 George Mason Drive. For boundary and registration questions specifically, the Office of Demographics and Planning handles those at (757) 263-1055, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can also email that office for written boundary clarifications. The district website at vbschools.com hosts the official school calendar and the current weather closing policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Virginia Beach, VA?

It depends on what you're measuring. GreatSchools, NeighborhoodScout, and the Virginia Department of Education all evaluate schools based on test scores, graduation rates, and college readiness - and they weight those factors differently. Look at more than one source, read the methodology, and decide what matters most to your family.

How do I find which schools a home in Virginia Beach, VA is zoned for?

Use the interactive School Locator tool at vbschools.com. The city also maintains a GIS-based zone layer for the 2025-2026 high school attendance boundaries. Either way, confirm the specific address with the Office of Demographics and Planning at (757) 263-1055 before you close - don't rely on assumptions.

Can my child attend a different public school in Virginia Beach than the one we are zoned for?

It depends on the school and program. Most students attend their zoned neighborhood school. Kempsville High School is an exception - its citywide draw program accepts students from all Virginia Beach middle schools, regardless of zone. Contact the district directly for information on open enrollment policies and application requirements.

How much is private school tuition in Virginia Beach?

It varies by school and grade level. At Cape Henry Collegiate, the 2021-2022 tuition ranged from $12,850 for Pre-Kindergarten to $21,440 for high school grades. Those are historical figures - contact each school's admissions office for current pricing.

How is Princess Anne High School ranked among Virginia Beach public schools?

Princess Anne High School, founded in 1954, is part of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools district. For its current standing among local high schools, check GreatSchools or NeighborhoodScout, or pull the performance data directly from the Virginia Department of Education.

Where can I find the Virginia Beach City Public Schools calendar and closing schedule?

The official calendar is posted at vbschools.com, along with the district's weather closing policies and emergency notifications. For general questions, call (757) 263-1007.