The "best" Virginia Beach school zone depends on your child and your priorities, so start with the address. Use the VBCPS School Locator to see the assigned schools, compare them on Virginia's School Quality Profiles, and remember that VBCPS academies accept students citywide by application. A home's zone sets its default schools, not academy admission.
Key facts
- VBCPS assigns students by attendance zone under School Board Policy 5-14 and Regulation 5-14.1. Official assignments are confirmed at registration.
- VBCPS has 11 comprehensive high schools: Bayside, Cox, First Colonial, Green Run, Kellam, Kempsville, Landstown, Ocean Lakes, Princess Anne, Salem and Tallwood.
- Eight high school academies and advanced programs accept students citywide by application.
- For the 2027 cycle, academy applications are open October 22, 2026 through January 6, 2027 at 5 p.m.
- The Mathematics and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes selects 125 students from more than 600 annual applicants, according to VBCPS.
How do school zones work in Virginia Beach?
Every address in Virginia Beach is assigned to one elementary, one middle and one high school attendance zone. Except in special circumstances, students attend the schools zoned for where they live. Here's how to check an address:
- Interactive Locator Map. Enter the street address in the VBCPS School Locator.
- Street Index Listings. VBCPS publishes, for each school, the streets assigned to it. These are useful for streets near a boundary.
- Attendance Zone Maps. VBCPS posts citywide zone maps for elementary, middle and high schools.
- Ask VBCPS. The Office of Demographics and Planning (757-263-1055 or vbschzones@vbschools.com) can confirm an assignment or fix an error.
Don't rely on a listing's school fields. They're entered by people and can be out of date. I check the locator for every home my buyers are serious about, and I recommend you do the same.
Which high schools and academies does VBCPS offer?
Here are VBCPS's high school academies and advanced programs and the schools that host them:
| Academy or advanced program | Host high school |
|---|---|
| Health Sciences Academy | Bayside |
| Legal Studies Academy | First Colonial |
| Entrepreneurship and Business Academy | Kempsville |
| Governor's STEM and Technology Academy | Landstown |
| Mathematics and Science Academy | Ocean Lakes |
| International Baccalaureate Program | Princess Anne |
| Visual and Performing Arts Academy | Salem |
| Global Studies and World Languages Academy | Tallwood |
Programs can change, so confirm the current list on VBCPS's Academies and Advanced Programs page. Every high school also offers its own Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and career courses.
Do academies change where I should buy?
They can make the decision easier. Because academies accept students from anywhere in the city:
- You don't need to buy in Ocean Lakes to apply to the Mathematics and Science Academy, or near First Colonial to apply to Legal Studies.
- Buying in an academy school's zone doesn't guarantee a seat. Admission is by application and, for some programs, testing or auditions.
- VBCPS says students accepted to the Mathematics and Science Academy receive division transportation.
So for many families, the more important question is the zoned elementary and middle school, since those are the schools your children will attend by default for most of their years.
How do I compare schools?
Data is a starting point. Here's the approach I suggest:
- Look up each school on the Virginia Department of Education's School Quality Profiles for accreditation, test results, attendance and other measures.
- Read the school's website for programs, clubs, sports and specialty offerings.
- Visit. Open houses and tours tell you about the building, the energy and how staff talk about students.
- Talk to neighbors and the school's parent-teacher association, if you can.
- Think about your child. A school with a strong arts program may fit one child better than another school with higher test scores.
For a look at Virginia Beach elementary options, see top elementary schools in Virginia Beach. You can browse every school page from the Virginia Beach Schools hub.
Do school zones affect home values?
Generally, yes. Many buyers are willing to pay more for homes in school zones they want, and those homes can attract more interest when it's time to sell. But the effect is hard to measure precisely, and it varies by street, price range and market conditions. I don't quote a percentage premium because I can't verify one that holds across the city.
What I do instead is compare recent sales on both sides of a zone boundary for homes of similar size, age and condition. That shows you whether a premium exists for the homes you're considering, and whether it's worth paying. My older post on how schools impact your home value covers this from the seller's side.
What should I ask when I tour a school?
A visit is the best way to get a feel for a school. Questions worth asking:
- What are class sizes in the grades my child will be in?
- What advanced, gifted, special education or English learner services are offered here?
- Which electives, clubs, sports and arts programs are available?
- How does the school communicate with families?
- For middle schools: which high school do most students go on to, and how do academy applications work from here?
- For high schools: what AP, dual enrollment and career courses are offered on site?
Write down the answers. After three or four tours, schools start to blur together.
Can school zones change after I buy?
Yes. The School Board can adjust attendance zones over time, for example when a school opens, closes or is rebuilt, or when enrollment shifts. A few practical tips:
- Check the locator twice: once when you're writing an offer and again before you register.
- Watch School Board agendas if you're buying near a school that's being rebuilt or near a boundary.
- Don't overpay for a boundary. A home that sits right at a zone line carries more risk than one in the middle of a zone.
How do out-of-zone requests work?
VBCPS allows families to request a placement at a school other than their zoned school by submitting a Student Placement Request Form with supporting documents. The School Board sets the attendance and eligibility criteria for those requests. Approval isn't guaranteed and may depend on space, so it's not a plan to buy around.
How do I search for homes by school?
Each school page on this site links to a live search of homes around that school. Popular starting points:
- Ocean Lakes High School area, see also homes zoned for Ocean Lakes High School
- First Colonial High School area, see also homes zoned for First Colonial High School
- Landstown High School area
- Kempsville High School area
- Princess Anne High School area
Remember that a radius search around a school isn't the same as a zone. Always confirm the assignment for the exact address.
Ready to find a home in the right school zone?
Start with a live search of Virginia Beach homes or a search around Landstown or Ocean Lakes. Then contact me or call or text (757) 919-8874. Tell me which schools matter to you, and I'll verify the zone for every home before you tour.
Barry Jenkins, Legacy Home Team at LPT Realty
Sources
- VBCPS: School Locator
- VBCPS: Academies and Advanced Programs
- VBCPS: Academy Application Process
- VBCPS Course Catalog: Mathematics and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School
- VBCPS Blog: Application deadlines for academic programs
- Virginia Department of Education: School Quality Profiles
Frequently asked questions
How do VBCPS school zones work?
Virginia Beach City Public Schools assigns students to the elementary, middle and high school whose attendance zone includes their home address, under School Board Policy 5-14 and Regulation 5-14.1. The division says official assignments are confirmed at registration.
What are VBCPS academy programs?
Academies are specialized high school programs open to students across the city by application, such as the Mathematics and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes and the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial. Admission is competitive and doesn't depend on where you live.
Do Virginia Beach school zones change?
They can. The School Board can adjust attendance zones, for example when schools open, close, are rebuilt or become crowded. Check the VBCPS School Locator for the exact address shortly before you buy, and again before you register.
Do homes in sought-after school zones cost more?
Often, yes, though the effect varies by street and price range and is hard to separate from other factors like home size and location. Comparing recent sales on both sides of a zone line is the best way to see whether a premium exists for a specific home.
Can my child attend a school outside our zone?
Families can request it. VBCPS requires a Student Placement Request Form with supporting documents, and the School Board sets criteria for out-of-zone transfers. Approval isn't guaranteed, so don't buy a home counting on one.
Where can I compare Virginia Beach schools?
The Virginia Department of Education's School Quality Profiles show performance, accreditation and other data for every public school. Pair that with a visit, a conversation with the principal and, for high schools, a look at course and academy offerings.
What is the deadline to apply to a VBCPS academy?
For the 2027 cycle, VBCPS says the online application opens October 22, 2026 and closes January 6, 2027 at 5 p.m. for both VBCPS and non-VBCPS students.