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2026-27 federal grant information presented to Virginia Beach School Board
2026-27 federal grant information presented to Virginia Beach School Board

The Virginia Beach School Board received information about proposed federal grant applications at its May 12 meeting. For the 2026-27 school year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) would receive approximately $18.9 million in formula grant funds through programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA).

Logo Virginia Beach City Public Schools Charting the Course
VBCPS students outperform state on SOL tests

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released Standard of Learning (SOL) pass rate data on Aug. 27. The overall SOL pass rates for Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) exceeded the state pass rates in all subject areas.

Our Program

Goal of the Program

The goal of the Environmental Studies Program is to empower students in the program to broaden their understanding of sustainability through:

  • Utilizing the natural community as a context for learning about environmental and sustainability issues
  • Implementing environmental service learning projects
  • Integrating interdisciplinary instruction
  • Incorporating challenge based, collaborative and design thinking learning
  • Earning the Board of Education's Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment

This is a tight knit community with heavy hitting industry and university level community partners that can change a student's life. Chris Freeman Environmental Studies Program Coordinator

Name another school where you can watch dolphins out your classroom window! Elena V. Student in the Environmental Studies Program

The boat trip and the turtle sightings made me realize that I wanted to look more at the oceanographic side of marine biology and now I have an internship with ODU’s Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography. Anne Elizabeth W. Student in Environmental Studies Program

This program has made my love for school come back because of the friends that have grown to be my family and the activities that have brought the creative part of my brain back out. Celia G. Student in the Environmental Studies Program

Having been a Naval Oceanographer, I appreciate the confluence of real-world environmental problem solving. The Environmental Studies Program empowers students, getting them involved as leaders in the community doing environmental work and building career capacity.” Dianna McDowell Environmental Studies Program Teacher

I am an architectural intern designing a building that will be the Norfolk Botanical Gardens laboratory for growing caterpillars for their butterfly exhibit. I get to design something that is actually going to be built! Miles P. Student in the Environmental Studies Program

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) is a two year interdisciplinary academic program designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with a rigorous, field-based education in environmental science, sustainability, and conservation.

Interested students apply in their sophomore year. If accepted, they attend ESP for a half day every day and are either in the morning or afternoon cohort and transportation is provided. The program emphasizes student voice through community connection and involvement.

Key Components

Areas of Focus and Community Partners

What We Offer: