Kempsville High School

Great Teachers and Staff. Principal is involved. Up to date with technology for both the students and parents.
--Submitted by a parent

The kids in this school are intolerant, disrespectful, rude, and above all, unmotivated so the school environment isn't something to boast about. However, there are some academic opportunities you can snatch if you go here - for example, there are challenging AP courses you can take, which will benefit you if you consider going to a good college.
--Submitted by a student

I have three children and all have attended Kempsville schools. I love them all. The teachers truly care about the children both acedemically and personally. There is a absolute no tolerance pollicy for bullying. There is so many activities for your child at this school, sports, arts, political groups, music etc. Tehy offer AP classes, Honor classes , clases at Advanced Technology school at the TCC campus. This school turns out well educated, well respected students.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter went there for her freshman and part of her sophomore year and I thought it wasn't as culturally diverse as the other schools in Virginia Beach. The school is really old and overcrowded and for meals they always prefer to have pizza...every day!!! I've since moved my daughter to a more culturaly diverse and updated school so she can learn to get along with everyone.
--Submitted by a parent

I substitute taught and coached Kempsville's swim team last year and fell in love. This school is absolutely my favorite in Virginia Beach! The staff is so friendly and welcoming to you; which most schools' faculty simply brush off the substitutes without so much as a hello. The parent involvement I received as a coach, could have been higher, but was outstanding from a few. The students are fabulous as a whole and really willing to learn and grow. I would work here again in a heartbeat and/or send my future children here!

Exceptional School. Had to move nearly 1,000 to appreciate just how much it had to offer.
--Submitted by a parent

I am currently a student at kemspville high school. The music (chorus, band, orcetra) and theatre department is wonderful. The teachers are caring, and there are a variety of courses, including AP and honors. The athletics aren't the BEST, but they are good. This may all be well and good, but this school, in my opinion, is overcrowded.The hallways are packed. You'd feel like a sardine. Many classes can be up to 32 students. A lot of students are very rude and disrespectful. The school has roaches, my friends have even spotted them in the FOODS classroom.
--Submitted by a student

We are a military family (US Navy), having lived in VaBch previously - and we specifically sought to move into a location that would allow our children to attend Kempsville. A fantastically supportive faculty, State-Champion-class athletic teams, a phenominal music arts program (orchestra, band and chorus), an entire spectrum of Advanced Placement courses, full SOL accredidation with a 100% pass rate, numerous extra-curricular activities, and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Graduates have been accepted to all the top VA State Universities, Ivy League colleges and the military academies, and these grads earn several million dollars of scholarships each year. Though some of the newer area high schools may have some updated facilities, Kempsville still has everything the students need to create gold start academic, artistic and athletic programs. A sure winner!
--Submitted by Ken Levins, a parent

Kempsville is an excellent school. I graduated in 1997 and I still keep in touch with a couple teachers. Kempsville has always been considered one of the best public schools in Virginia Beach in academics and athletics. Like all public schools in VB there are different groups --- some that are going places and some that are going nowhere. Groups of high school students that drink alcohol and use drugs really cannot be avoided in VB public schools. By no means are they a prominate part of actual school days (its just after school and on the weekends). Every student that attends Kempsville high school is given a far better than average chance of getting accepted into one of VA's many public universities. I really do not remember any of my friends not attending college - most going to UVA, W&M, JMU, Va Tech, Radford, or other colleges in VA.
--Submitted by a student