To find homes zoned for First Colonial High School, search north-central Virginia Beach around Mill Dam Road, Hilltop and Great Neck, then confirm each address in the VBCPS School Locator. First Colonial hosts the Legal Studies Academy, which accepts students citywide by application, so your address doesn't affect academy admission.
Key facts
- First Colonial High School is at 1272 Mill Dam Road in north-central Virginia Beach.
- It hosts VBCPS's Legal Studies Academy, open to students across the city by application.
- For the 2027 cycle, academy applications open October 22, 2026 and are due January 6, 2027 at 5 p.m.
- Students attend their zoned school under School Board Policy 5-14, and VBCPS confirms assignments at registration.
- VBCPS publishes street index listings for each high school, including First Colonial.
How do I find homes zoned for First Colonial?
- Start with a map search. This live search of homes near First Colonial High School shows current listings around the school.
- Filter for your needs: price, bedrooms, yard, water access.
- Check each address in the VBCPS School Locator's Interactive Locator Map.
- Use the First Colonial street index for homes near a boundary.
- Recheck before you register. Zones can change over time.
A radius search is a starting point, not a zone map. Some homes close to the school go elsewhere, and some farther away are zoned for First Colonial.
What is the Legal Studies Academy?
The Legal Studies Academy is one of VBCPS's citywide high school academies. Students apply in eighth grade through the division's online application, which for the 2027 cycle opens October 22, 2026 and closes January 6, 2027 at 5 p.m. VBCPS lists notification letters for February 19, 2027, with letters of intent due February 26.
VBCPS holds an information night for the Legal Studies Academy each fall at First Colonial. Check the Information Nights page for the current date, and contact the academy coordinator listed on the VBCPS Academies page with questions.
Because the academy is citywide, you don't need to buy in the First Colonial zone to apply. If you're choosing a home mainly for the academy, that's not a reason to stretch your budget.
What areas are near First Colonial High School?
First Colonial sits between several popular parts of north-central Virginia Beach:
| Area | What it offers | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Hilltop | Shopping, dining and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital along First Colonial and Laskin roads | Hilltop |
| Great Neck | Established, wooded neighborhoods and water access on Broad Bay, Linkhorn Bay and the Lynnhaven River | Great Neck |
| North End | Single-family homes along the ocean north of the resort strip | North End |
| Lynnhaven | Lynnhaven River, Lynnhaven Parkway corridor | Lynnhaven |
| Oceanfront | Condos and beach homes in the resort area | Oceanfront |
Not every street in these areas is zoned for First Colonial. Some are zoned for Cox, Kellam or other schools. That's why the locator check matters.
Related school pages on this site:
How do feeder schools work?
In VBCPS, every address has its own elementary, middle and high school assignment. Feeder patterns aren't always clean. Part of a middle school's zone can feed one high school and part another. When you look at a home:
- Check all three assignments at once in the School Locator.
- Ask yourself which assignment matters most for your family over the next several years.
- If you have children at different levels, think about the whole path, not just high school.
Are there waterfront homes near First Colonial?
North-central Virginia Beach has a lot of water: Linkhorn Bay, Broad Bay, the Lynnhaven River and smaller lakes and creeks. Some waterfront and water-access homes in the area are zoned for First Colonial and some aren't.
If you want both water and a First Colonial assignment, here's what to check:
- The zone, by address in the locator.
- Water depth at the dock at mean low water.
- Route to open water, including bridges. The Lesner Bridge over Lynnhaven Inlet has 45 feet of vertical clearance above mean high water.
- Flood zone and insurance cost.
- Bulkhead or shoreline condition and permits for docks and lifts.
See what Great Neck is like as a place to live and Lynnhaven for boaters for more on water access.
What's daily life like near First Colonial?
The neighborhoods around First Colonial are some of the most convenient in the city. Within a short drive you have:
- Hilltop shopping and restaurants along Laskin and First Colonial roads.
- Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital on First Colonial Road.
- The Oceanfront and the Boardwalk to the east.
- First Landing State Park and Chesapeake Bay beaches to the north on Shore Drive.
- NAS Oceana to the south, a short commute for people who work on base.
- I-264 for commutes to central Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
Homes range from mid-century ranches to newer and rebuilt homes, with some townhome and condo options. It's a good area for buyers who want to be near the beach without living in the resort area.
What if we're moving in the middle of the school year?
Military orders and job transfers don't follow the school calendar. If you're moving mid-year:
- Pick the home first, then confirm the zone, since your child will enroll at the zoned school for your new address.
- Contact VBCPS registration early. Registration requires proof that you live in the zone, so ask what documents they'll accept if you're between a contract and closing.
- Bring records. Report cards, transcripts, IEP or 504 plans and immunization records speed things up.
- Ask about academies. If your child wants to apply to an academy, check the application timeline. Applications for the 2027 cycle close January 6, 2027.
If your closing date and school start date don't line up, tell me early. We can sometimes negotiate an earlier closing or a pre-closing occupancy agreement, though sellers aren't required to agree.
What else should buyers near First Colonial check?
- AICUZ noise zones. Parts of north-central Virginia Beach are near NAS Oceana's flight paths. Check the city's AICUZ map. Sellers must disclose noise and accident potential zones.
- Flood zones, especially near the water.
- Home age. Many homes in the area are established, so look closely at roofs, HVAC and plumbing.
- HOA or civic league. Some neighborhoods have mandatory associations and some have voluntary civic leagues.
How do I compare First Colonial with other high schools?
Look up First Colonial and the other VBCPS high schools on the Virginia Department of Education's School Quality Profiles, and attend an open house if you can. My guide to the best school zones in Virginia Beach explains how zones, academies and transfer requests work.
Ready to find a home zoned for First Colonial?
Start with a live search near First Colonial High School or search Great Neck and Hilltop. Then contact me or call or text (757) 919-8874. I'll verify the zone for each home and flag water, flood and noise-zone details before you tour.
Barry Jenkins, Legacy Home Team at LPT Realty
Sources
- VBCPS: Academies and Advanced Programs
- VBCPS: Academy Application Process and Timelines
- VBCPS: Information Nights
- VBCPS: School Locator
- FIGG Bridge Group: Lesner Bridge
- City of Virginia Beach: AICUZ
- Virginia Department of Education: School Quality Profiles
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a home is zoned for First Colonial High School?
Enter the exact address in the VBCPS School Locator, or use the First Colonial street index on the VBCPS website. Don't rely on the listing or a radius search, since zone lines don't follow neighborhood names.
What is the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial?
It's one of VBCPS's high school academies, hosted at First Colonial High School and open to students across Virginia Beach by application. VBCPS holds an information night each fall, and the 2027 application deadline is January 6, 2027.
Do I need to live in the First Colonial zone to attend the Legal Studies Academy?
No. Academies accept students citywide by application, so your address doesn't affect admission. Living in the zone means First Colonial is your default high school.
Which middle schools feed into First Colonial?
Feeder patterns depend on the address, and parts of a middle school's zone can go to different high schools. Check the elementary, middle and high school assignments together for any home in the VBCPS School Locator.
Are there waterfront homes in the First Colonial zone?
The area around the school includes neighborhoods near Linkhorn Bay, Broad Bay and other waterways in north-central Virginia Beach. Whether a specific waterfront home is zoned for First Colonial depends on the address, so verify each one.
Where is First Colonial High School?
First Colonial is at 1272 Mill Dam Road in north-central Virginia Beach, near the Hilltop and Great Neck areas and not far from the Oceanfront.