The Virginia Beach City Public Schools is the second largest city school system in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the thirty-ninth largest in the country. Its motto, "Ahead of the Curve", conveys its dedication to being in the forefront of innovative educational programs. In 2004, it was recognized by the American School Board Journal for its student-mentor program, and for LEAD, a teacher education program. Among the specialized curricula it offers are math and science academies, a visual and performing arts academy, an Advanced Technology Center and an international baccalaureate program. Virginia Beach students consistently score above the national average for all grade levels on achievement tests.
The following is a summary of data regarding Virginia Beach's public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.
Total enrollment: 74,682
Number of facilities elementary schools: 55
junior high/middle schools: 15
senior high schools: 11
other: 15 city-wide centers/schools
Student/teacher ratio: elementary, 15.3:1; secondary, 12:1
Teacher salaries
minimum: $34,274
maximum: $72,325
Funding per pupil: $7,414 (2002-2003)
There are 43 private, parochial and military schools in the city enrolling students from Pre-K to 12th grade.
Public Schools Information: Virginia Beach City Public Schools, 2512 George Mason Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456-0038; telephone (757)427-4585; email vbcpsweb@vbcps.k12.va.us
Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk enrolls more than 20,000 students in 150 academic programs offering 67 undergraduate, 68 masters, 26 doctoral degrees, and two certificates of advanced study. The most popular recent majors have been psychology, finance/banking, education and nursing. Tidewater Community College's Virginia Beach campus, enrolling more than 19,000 students annually, is a participant in Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology with ODU.
Virginia Wesleyan College, a four-year liberal arts private college located on the Virginia Beach/Norfolk border, enrolls more than 1,400 students in 38 degree programs. Other institutions of higher education in the area are Eastern Virginia Medical School (900 students), Norfolk State University (8,900 students), Regent University (1,500 students), ODU/NSU Virginia Beach Education Center (5,800 students), and Hampton Roads Graduate Center, part of University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with 250 students.
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Libraries encompasses the central library and six area libraries with a Municipal Reference Library, Public Law Library, bookmobile, and a Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The library system has almost than 800,000 books, plus the Princess Anne (County) Historical Collection. The library publishes a bimonthly newsletter. Other libraries in the area include college- and church-affiliated libraries; the Edgar Cayce Foundation Library, specializing in metaphysical topics; the Virginia Marine Science's Museum Library; and the Mariner's Museum Library.
Research centers in Virginia Beach include the Association for Research and Enlightenment and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Eastern Shore Lab, which is affiliated with the College of William and Mary.
Public Library Information: Virginia Beach Central Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; telephone (757)431-3001