Old Donation School is Virginia Beach City Public Schools' full-time gifted school for grades 3–8, at 4633 Honeygrove Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. It has no neighborhood attendance zone. Admission is by application for students identified as gifted, and it enrolled 1,357 students in fall 2025 according to the Virginia Department of Education.
| Address | 4633 Honeygrove Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 757-648-3240 |
| Grades | 3–8 (VDOE category: Middle, 03–08) |
| Enrollment (fall) | 1,357 in 2025–26 · 1,377 in 2024–25 · 1,346 in 2023–24 |
| State accreditation | Fully Accredited, 2025–26 (VDOE) |
| Attendance zone | None. Admission is application-based, citywide. |
| Official website | olddonationschool.vbschools.com |
Does buying a home near Old Donation School get my child in?
No. Unlike neighborhood schools, Old Donation School does not have an attendance zone. VBCPS describes it as a school with a general intellectual aptitude program for grades 3–8, a gifted dance program for grades 3–8 and a gifted visual arts program for grades 3–5. Seats are limited, so enrollment is application-based. Living next door gives no admissions advantage. Your home address still decides your zoned elementary, middle and high school.
Who can apply to Old Donation School?
According to VBCPS Gifted Programs, students in grades 2–7 can apply for their third- through eighth-grade years. Selection depends on open seats and a rating from the ODS Rating Committee, and no single criterion decides it. VBCPS posts the application window each fall. For the 2026–27 cycle it opened October 9, 2026. Virginia Beach residency is required. Check the VBCPS gifted application page for current deadlines.
What is different about the program?
VBCPS says the curriculum covers all Virginia Standards of Learning objectives, compacted and extended for gifted learners. On its families page, the school says middle-school students study a world language starting in grade 6 and can earn high school credit for Algebra I, Geometry and Earth Science. It also notes that students may play sports at their neighborhood schools, with transportation provided.
Where is Old Donation School, and what neighborhoods are nearby?
The campus is on Honeygrove Road in the Bayside/Thoroughgood area of northern Virginia Beach, near Independence Boulevard and Haygood Road. The closest neighborhood guide on this site is Bayside, and Town Center & Pembroke and Chic's Beach are a short drive away. Families come from across the city, so commute time matters. Ask the school about transportation for your address.
How far is Old Donation School from other parts of the city?
Straight-line distances from the campus are below. Driving distances are longer.
| Destination | Distance |
|---|---|
| Town Center | 1.9 mi |
| the Oceanfront (Atlantic Ave at 17th St) | 8.9 mi |
| NAS Oceana | 7.5 mi |
| JEB Little Creek | 3.6 mi |
| JEB Fort Story | 7.6 mi |
| NAS Dam Neck Annex | 11.7 mi |
| Downtown Norfolk | 8.4 mi |
How do I check performance data?
The Virginia Department of Education's School Quality Profile for Old Donation School has Standards of Learning results, enrollment and other official data. VBCPS reports that all 81 of its schools earned Full Accreditation for 2026–27 (VBCPS). I removed the outdated third-party ratings that were on this page before.
How should I think about homes and Old Donation School?
Pick a home for its zoned schools, commute and budget, then treat Old Donation School as an application-based option on top of that. If you are moving to Virginia Beach and plan to apply, watch the fall application window, because the timing affects which school year a child can start. You can browse the homes for sale around the Old Donation campus or the full Virginia Beach search. Call or text (757) 919-8874 if you want help matching zones to listings.
Frequently asked questions
Does Old Donation School have an attendance zone?
No. It is a citywide, application-based gifted school. Your address still determines your zoned neighborhood schools.
What grades does Old Donation School serve?
Grades 3 through 8. VDOE lists it as a Middle (03–08) school, and VBCPS describes its programs as grades 3–8, with visual arts in grades 3–5.
When do Old Donation School applications open?
VBCPS opens the gifted and Old Donation School application window each fall. For the 2026–27 cycle it opened October 9, 2026. Check the VBCPS gifted programs page for current deadlines.
Who is eligible to apply?
Students currently in grades 2–7 who meet VBCPS gifted identification criteria. Seats are limited, and a rating committee reviews each applicant. Virginia Beach residency is required.
How many students attend Old Donation School?
VDOE reports fall enrollment of 1,357 for 2025–26.
Can Old Donation students play sports?
The school says students may take part in athletic teams at their neighborhood schools, with transportation provided.