Throughout their high school careers, students can enroll in course work and engage in learning opportunities designed to help them identify their areas of interest that can be translated into meaningful plans after high school. Whether students are interested in entering the workforce, continuing to college, or pursuing a career in the military, there are options available in high school to support all of these endeavors. We hope you will take the time to learn more about:

• Using the Academic and Career Plan as a map to the future
  To make the most of the opportunities available in high school and help prepare students for their chosen area of interest, a series of course sequences have been identified that map on to various career clusters. The course sequences are meant to serve as a guide for scheduling courses that support students� future endeavors. Learn More
• Pursuing a specific area of study through an Academy or Advanced Academic Program
  The school division offers eight different academy and advanced academic programs that provide students with skills and experience aligned with specific career areas such as legal studies, health sciences, visual and performing arts, global studies and world languages, STEM and technology, as well as entrepreneurship and business. These programs typically require that students apply during their eighth-grade year, though students may also apply during their ninth-grade year. Learn More
  
  In addition, students in grades nine through 12 are eligible to attend the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia. Students must complete an application and audition for the intensive programs in dance, music, musical theatre, theatre and visual arts. The applications are available from the school all year and are typically due in December with the adjudication process taking place in January. Students take academic classes at their regular high schools in the morning and attend the Governor�s School for the Arts for three hours every afternoon during the regular school year. For each year they attend, students may earn three credits. Learn More
  
  Students identified as gifted may also be interested in attending one of the Summer Residential Governor�s Schools and Academies. The state of Virginia offers these programs in the areas of academics and performing arts as well as world language. Students in grades 10 and 11 are eligible to apply. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) establishes application deadlines for school divisions. Students should check with their school counselors for the deadlines established by the school division for submission of applications.
• Taking advantage of technical and career education opportunities
  All students also have the opportunity to enroll in technical and career education courses that provide them with hands-on, job-related experience in areas such as business information technology, family and consumer sciences, engineering and technology, and marketing and entrepreneurship. These courses are available at the students� home high school and additional opportunities are available through the Advanced Technology Center and the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center. More than 123 industry certifications are available to students who successfully pass an industry-credentialing exam. TCE classes are paired with career and technical student organizations. Their co-curricular clubs offer students opportunities to extend their learning through competitions and community projects. Many of the career and technical education courses also provide students with job shadowing, internship or cooperative work experiences. Learn More
• Participating in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers� Training Corps (NJROTC)
  The school division offers NJROTC programs and naval science as an elective course at several of our high schools for students in grades 9 through 12. The program emphasizes self-discipline, citizenship, patriotism, followership, leadership and orientation in Naval subjects. Each NJROTC unit has its own organizational structure that is operated by student cadets and supervised by certified Naval Science instructors. Students successfully completing two to four years of the program may enter the military at an advanced enlisted pay grade. Opportunities for being accepted in the various service academies and earning ROTC scholarships are enhanced by participation in the NJROTC program. Students enrolled at a school that does not offer the program may be eligible to enroll in the program at another high school as a special NJROTC cadet. Learn More
• Earning college credit through Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses
  Each of the high schools offer advanced courses through the Advanced Placement program and dual enrollment courses. These opportunities may result in students earning college credit while in high school depending on exam or course performance. The Advanced Placement Program is administered through the College Board and provides students access to college-level courses. These courses are delivered at the students� home school and may also be available through Virtual Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education�s online program. In the Dual Enrollment Program, students may take courses that allow them to meet requirements for high school graduation while at the same time earning college credit through Tidewater Community College. Learn More
• Enrolling in online courses
  Students can take one or two online courses from the convenience of their homes through Virginia Beach Digital Campus. All online courses address the same content as their traditional face-to-face versions but are delivered over the internet through a learning management system. This requires daily access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection. Courses are available over the summer at a cost and are available during the regular school year free of charge. Learn More
  
  Students may also take online courses through Virtual Virginia, a program sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education. Virginia Virtual provides students across the Commonwealth access to 24 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and 20 non-AP course giving them the opportunity to enroll in courses that they may not be able to fit into their regular school day or take advantage of courses that are not currently available in their schools. Learn More
• Graduating on time and the specific requirements for different diploma types and state seals of recognition
  One of the most important things students and parents can do to make the most of the high school years is to be familiar with the requirements for graduation and the various diploma types available. At the beginning of each high school year, students meet with their assigned school counselor to review the requirements for graduation and, specifically, what the student has completed. Families are encouraged to contact their student�s school counselor to discuss progress. Learn More
  
  In addition to the various diploma types, the Commonwealth of Virginia also offers students the opportunity to earn special seals of achievement for meeting specific requirements and demonstrating exemplary performance. Learn More
• Pursuing personal interests through participation in school-sponsored extracurricular activities
  Involvement in extracurricular activities has been linked to many positive outcomes for students such as an increased sense of belonging, better behavior and attendance, as well as enhanced academic performance. Students can participate in a variety of Virginia High School League (VHSL) sports or academic competitions, after school activities and club activities. Contact the Student Activities Coordinator (SAC) at your high school to learn more.

Our hope is that students will leverage the opportunities available to them to make the most of their high school experience so that they graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to be college and career ready.