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Overall, I think Norfolk Academy is one of the top schools in the area, at least academically. Our foreign language programs, especially German, our top notch, and we have consistently had the highest number of National Merit scholars in the area. On the down side, the social aspect of the school can be rather dull or exclusive. The small class size can be annoying and the geographic distance between students can aggravating for people who don't live in Virginia Beach or the nicer Norfolk neighborhoods. Athletically, we tend to do pretty well, with the exception of our football team which varies year to year. It is nice that pretty much anyone can join a sports team, no matter what their skill level is. These things considered, I'm more than happy about the past 12 years I've spent at Norfolk Academy.
All three of my daughters attended Norfolk Academy and went on to do very well in college and in graduate school. Norfolk Academy is a very academically rigorous institution and I think that the students who are most successful there have to be both bright and motivated. For those that are, however, there is nothing close to NA in terms of college prep in the Tidewater area. My daughters were also happy there and chose to be there - being a graduate of a Virginia Beach public high school, I always left that option open to them. But I am very glad they chose to remain at NA. It is a truly excellent school and it has a strong emphasis on honor and character development, as well as academics.
Well, saying whats true is that I went to NA for a year, and was bullied by kids whoms parents are richer than mine. Sure the building is huge, fancy and, did I mention big? the kids there act like they are a present from the heavens. If you want small classes, more 1 on 1 time and nicer people and staff in general, I reccomend Cape Henry. Check out their page.
I'm just going to be totally honest. I came to Norfolk Academy in 7th grade from another local private school I loved b/c the only way to get into NA for highschool is to be there in middle school. There's no doubt that the buildings are awesome and the best in the region, but the environment was awful, at least for me. I'm from Norfolk, but most of the kids are from Virginia Beach and act like they are God's gift to society. I also thought it was strange that there were no AP Classes...to common i guess. I left after my sophomore year and went to Norfolk Collegiate. Collegiate isn't as flashy, but there is greater diversity, AP classess, and great teachers. It also costs about four thousand dollars less. Save your money!
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