Churchland High School

I have been thrilled with Churchland High School. I have had 2 sons go through CHS and both have received a quality education. 90% of the teachers they've had were wonderful teachers that took the time to "teach" the students. Communication with the teachers has been outstanding. There is a wide variety of sports offered and I have been impressed with the coaches. I would highly recommend this High School to anyone that wants a quality education.
—Submitted by a parent

As a 33 year veteran teacher, I can say that Churchland is one of the best. The administration and staff work hard to allow educators to do what they do best - Teach! Yes, there are problems; all schools have problems. We are not a school of perfect students, perfect teachers, perfect administrators and perfect support staff. However, we are always striving toward that goal.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am currently a freshmen at this school. The staff at churchland ensure that each and every student has the opportunity to do any and every thing they can to further their education. Even the guidance counselors meet with each student individually to help with goal planning. Churchland offers a program (magnet) for out of zone, high acchiving students. The program features theatre, band, chorus, art, and dance and is very hands on. All together, churchand is an amazing school!
—Submitted by a student

My daughter is a senior at Churchland High School. She has had an awesome experience. Her teachers are skilled and very caring. The administration is very structured. The students get along well. My daughter participates in the First College program. First College students take college courses through TCC. When she graduates from high school she will be able to enter college as a sophomore. Churchland also has an excellent Art Magnet Program.
—Submitted by a parent

I am A former student and I would like to say that the best years of my life were in Churchland High. I had many friends and the teachers worked with me every step of the way. Class of 2007!!!!!

Churchland High School has a fantastic art department offering students the opportunity to study art at a foundations level or in advanced classes to include their Magnet Program, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Photography, and A/P Art.
—Submitted by a teacher

As a current senior at CHS I feel that are school is average. People have done very well for themselves by attending our school while other students just do not care. There is a lot of opportunity here at Churchland if you choose to go after it. As for the parents who complain about our, you are not helping the problem. I am a guidance aide and I hear a lot of parents complain about our school, but they refuse to be bothered to help fix the problems. If you have no intention to help us grow you have no right to complain. We are, by far, not the best school by any means, most of which is due to our financial status, however we do very well with what we have.
—Submitted by a student

As a current student (senior) at CHS, I would like to say that Churchland is by far the best high school in Portsmouth. My 4 years have been full of amazing teachers, great classes, and good friends. Shame on all of you saying that CHS is 'one of the worst schools in VA.' I attended the Summer Governor's School in Richmond this summer, and it turns out that, while we do not have a lot of money to provide all the benefits that other schools have, we are still getting a high-quality education. I felt very up to par with kids from northern VA. I believe I am very prepared for college because of what I have learned at CHS. If students would stop blaming the teachers and administrators for their supposed shortcomings, and remember that your education is what YOU make of it, perhaps they would love our school too.
—Submitted by a student

I'm currently a junior at CHS, and I can honestly say, it's one of the worst schools in Virginia to send your child too. The teachers are fully qualified, but the students there with behavioral problems take up too much to really get anything done in 90 mins, unless you're put in an Honors class or an AP/DE class.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated in 2004. I found that no matter what kind of student you are be put in all honors classes and AP classes. They are not that much harder, the teachers are nicer to you and there is more learning involved.
—Submitted by a former student

My son graduated from CHS June 2006. While there were definite issues in behavior and discipline at the school there were also positive aspects. The art department is the best. Mrs. Stith and Mrs. Cosumano more than prepared my son for the rigors of a top art college in New York City. My son has said that the art history he received from his teacher more than prepared him for college. He is the top student currently at his college for art history. He was in magnet program and received help from Special Ed. Both programs were helpful to my son. The English department and French teacher were also helpful to him. Overall though it may not be the best school district -like other schools it does have positive aspects that prepared my son and enabled him to get into both his college choices.
—Submitted by a parent

AS a former teacher of CHS, I think like every school, it has its good points and bad points. I do agree that discipline is a large focus, but unfortunately, many of the students do not allow the teacher do anything other than discpline them. CHS does have a top notch magnet program, but not all the programs are treated equally. Very little recognition is given to are arts when the succeed, and very little support. Unfortunately, SOLS are a fact of life, and we often have to rush through curriculum. BUt I feel there are quite a few teachers who will help, if you ask. It is overcrowded, and has many mechanical issues. There are times when it can a very difficult environment. But in Portsmouth, I think it's the best there is.
—Submitted by Marie Miguel, a teacher

As a returning student of CHS I believe that overall, the teachers do what they are asked which is to teach. I don't believe that it is the responsibility of the teachers to baby the students. I see most of you complain that they are worried who is in the halls and why they are disciplining you for being late for class, there are reasons for it. Yes, the SOLS are tough..but it isn't just CHS that has to do them. I like this school. It is one of the most clean schools I have ever been to. CHS also has the Magnet program and an outstanding amount of extracurricular activities..Get involved! stop complaining....you're in high school now.
—Submitted by Rosy, a student

As a current student (a senior, I might add), the prospect of leaving Churchland High School is a true blessing. The hallways between classes are crowded to the point of claustrophobia. The teachers, while some are very unsatisfactory , are NOT treated with respect from the administration.The restrooms are atrocious, there is no soap and rarely any toilet paper in the girls' room, and some stalls are missing doors. SOLs are the main focus of classes, as well. This place is a prison rather than a learning facility. My apologies to future classes of CHS...I hope the situation improves.
—Submitted by Courtney Riffe, a student

As a former student of CHS, I found that the teachers and staff to be an excellent part of my formative education. With the loving and caring environment they provided as well as the new innovations and resources that were available to us as students, you couldn't ask for a better place to spend four years of your life.
—Submitted by Jessica Bunch, a former student

Being new to Churchland this year, I have to say that I am pleased with the change in the climate. Students had a successful pep rally and Prom is looking to be elegant being held at the Renassiance Hotel. As for the complaints that the teachers teach for the SOLs, anywhere you go teachers are struggling to find a healthy balance that will still have students passing the SOLs (which are required to graduate) and cultivating an exciting learning environment. As for the overcrowding, the administration is aware of the problem and actively working to amend the issue. We are up and coming.
—Submitted by a staff

As a junior at Churchland I would have to say the school's main focus is sports and knowing a student's every move, every second of the day. The teachers are okay but most of the time they rush through lessons and even if you ask, they won't really take the time to go over the lesson again. CHS is more like a juvenile hall than a school sometimes. We need to stop allowing anyone and everyone into the school. People from downtown Portsmouth should go to the school's they are zoned for. The overcrowding is ridiculous and this is because the school allows everyone into the school. You can't walk down the halls without bumping into everyone that passes you by. I do have one good thing to say- It is the only accredited school in Portsmouth, so I guess not everything is done wrong!
—Submitted by a student

As a student at churchland I think our school is very unaceptable. The teacher are more concerned with SOLs and we fly through the material so we barely have a chance to learn anything. There are few teachers that actually care about the students and are willing to help. When at school i feel unsafe the security guards and principals are more friends with the students then authority figures. Our school is over crowded, so much that when walking down the hallway you struggle. I beleive our school could be a great school if they would become more organized and actually care about the student and them actually getting and education.
—Submitted by a student

This school is the worst school to send your child. For the sports program the coaches are more focus on how a kid plays and what they can do for the team then the kids getting in trouble in school. The athelitic dept and some of the teachers you cannot tell the adults from the kids because of the way they conduct themselves and the way they dress is the same. There is no teacher/parent involvement when kids are skipping or failing the classes until the report card comes home which the kids are not required to give to the parents and have it return back to school sign. If they do get the report card sign the child will get extra credit points.
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at CHS, I must say I am surprised by the lack of parental support for a school that is trying to maintain state standards while keeping the school environment organized and productive. While I will be the first to admit we don't always get it right, I would expect that the ammount of effort put into making school a place of learning and diclipline would not be overlooked by parents who struggle with the same issues. If the students were more prepared to learn, willing to maintain self-control, and be a little more understanding that CHS is a school and not a mall designed for entertainment, then I would imagine that the results would be to everyone's liking: an educational facilty where students, teachers, and parents all understand their specific roles.
—Submitted by a teacher