Help a crunchy mama out! :)

[want2leaveVA]

Do Not Raise Your Kids In Ocean View!

[VirginiaMommy]

Ocean View is not a place you would want to raise kids. They are trying to "revitalize" it, but I wouldn't take my chances.

I went to Kempsville High and I did student teach there for a little while. Kempsville and Tallwood are still pretty good schools. It is hard for me to judge schools around here because I taught in Norfolk and substituted in Virginia Beach...so I know too much about it if that makes sense. I don't think I can be objective enough.

Most public schools in this area are going to be totally focused on standardized tests! I hate to say that, but it is true. You may be able to find schools that have higher test scores that don't completely teach to the test...but many of them have gone to that. So, you really want to look on the public schools website and check the SOL scores. If they are not really high, then there is probably a major focus on the test. The hardest thing for me to stomach is the constant Standards of Learning focus. Basically, they are testing kids to death around here. However, it is honestly becoming like that in many areas of the country because of the No Child Left Behind Act, so it is not necessarily a deal breaker..just something to think about.

If my daughter was going to school right now, I would want her to go to Chesapeake Schools. I would also prefer to live in Chesapeake over Virginia Beach, and I have lived in Virginia Beach my whole life. I actually prefer the slower pace of Chesapeake, and I don't really care for the "touristy" Virginia Beach in the summers... I also understand that people say Chesapeake is overcrowded...but so is Virginia Beach. It seems to me that every piece of land that can possibly be developed is currently being developed in Virginia Beach. Don't get me wrong, I love this area. I will miss it somewhat when we relocate...but there is room for improvement in any area. The most difficult part about living here for us is housing prices. We just can't afford to get much here unfortunately.

[lmjohnson123]

That is false Tomiddes. Suffolk DOES teach to the SOL standards, unfortunately.
For another perspective on schools try GreatSchools.net I have gotten some good advise from there and they rank them. Some of the reviews are old though. My top 3 recommendations for schools are in Chesapeake: 1. Hickory 2. Great Bridge 3. Grassfield
Although I am not really up on VA beach.

[Harulka]

Thanks so much to everyone for the extensive and very helpful information! I am really concerned about the 'teach to the test' issues (ugh ugh ugh) and also appreciate the detail school and neighborhood info. It is so hard to get "the truth" when you are relocating, kwim?

Will be digesting all this and researching our options...may be back to pester with more questions.

[janeannwho]

I keep hearing people talking about the SOLs and I am trying to understand the objections to them?

[surfergirl79]

I would definitely recommend living in Virginia Beach. Trader Joe's is great, but you can do the drive way out to Newport News bi-weekly to go there. You do NOT want to live on that side of the bridge tunnel. I think the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach is the nicest and there are a lot of health-conscious people there. There is a great organic/health food store called the Heritage Store near the beach. Also, the Fresh Market on Laskin Road is wonderful. The Great Neck area has the best school district (Frank W. Cox H.S.). It is 5-10 minutes from the beach and is a beautiful surburban areas with beautiful neighborhoods, big yards, nice landscaping, community pools, and very low crime rate. The North End beaches are very close by, which have a lot of locals. You are also close to Shore Drive and Seashore State Park. The Oceanfront is less than 10 minutes, which has some great restaurants and is really nice in the off season to walk around, go to coffee shops and surf shops, etc. There are wonderful restaurants and stores very close by without ever getting on the highway. When I lived there, I rarely left the Great Neck/beach area except to drive to Ghent occassionally (in Norfolk) and to go to Trader Joe's. There are wonderful opportunities to do outdoor activites and a very neighborhood feel at the North End of the beach. Definitely go check it out - talk to realtors and have them take you around. Good luck.