Kempsville High School

Posted: August 26, 2026

I have had countless experiences with the same teachers who blatantly ignored my 504 and classmates, we decided to report these teacher to the administration on multiple Instances but they did absolutely nothing about it and the ignorance continued.

Posted: August 26, 2026

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Posted: June 25, 2023

Kempsville High School is a great high school. The majority of the staff is great, they truly care about their students and want to help them succeed. The school is very much a community and they are very welcoming. The Business Academy is outstanding.
They offer a variety of Honors and AP classes. I would say that although fights occur here from time to time, it is not a major problem at this school. I would also say that there is not a bullying issue here either. In my experience, most of the students here are kind and are willing to be your friend. Teachers are mostly lenient with deadlines and assignments in my experience as well. Kempsville is the same as any other high school but it definitely has its advantages compared to the other high schools in VB.

Posted: June 25, 2023

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Posted: March 21, 2023

A school is what you make of it!

Posted: March 21, 2023

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Posted: February 22, 2022

A good school with strong leadership and sportsmanship. We do everything as a team, and try not to leave people behind! As with every school, there will be differences in how each teacher teaches. But in my general experience, I've had wonderful teachers. :)

Posted: February 22, 2022

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Posted: April 30, 2021

Extremely strong high school hated rated by parents & kids who actually GO THERE. Kempsville High sits in the middle of Kempsville Borough one of the most popular areas of Virginia Beach. Kempsville area is very family oriented and almost resembles a small town in the middle of a huge large city. Kempsville School are tops. My two children went to Kempsville Schools....I still live in Woodstock Area of Kempsville. Woodstock Elementary is a good solid elementary school newer facility. Kempsville High Staff is highly educated & has a very large # of advanced degrees in the teachers.

Posted: April 30, 2021

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Posted: October 30, 2020

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Posted: October 30, 2020

It offers an academy for business, which mirrors many of the parents who own their own businesses in the area.

Posted: June 30, 2019

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Posted: June 30, 2019

We have 2 graduates from Kempsville High School and they went to college; they have done quite well. Often the High School experience is what you make out of it and what is required at home. If your parents are active in their children’s education they will most likely succeed. I would like to see the High School assigned a better academy by the system. The schools with the science, math and IB programs have high rankings. Those and other high GPA or gifted programs raise a school’s GPA, test scores, etc so they do not truly represent the actual school base.

Posted: June 20, 2018

I’ve had many military friends who have praised this school and the schools feeding into it, especially Kempsville Middle and Fairfield Elementary I’m the Fairfield neighborhood. With so many military moving in and out it is great to know these schools know how hard it is for these children. We felt very welcome and had a great experience.

Posted: June 20, 2018

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Posted: February 14, 2018

My daughter was given a paper to write on a hot button topic. The paper was exceptionally written but the teacher disagreed with her stance and gave her a c+. You can’t ask a child to write about something that’s so socially charged right now and just because you don’t agree, give her a lower grade. I know it was exceptionally written because we had a college professor who teaches English read over it. Her teacher is liberal and if she wanted her to write a liberal paper then she should have given her a liberal topic, not a choice.

Posted: February 14, 2018

The only reason I put disagree is because there are a few good teachers in there.

Posted: February 14, 2018

This school is the worst, kids talk horrible to adults and they do nothing about it.

Posted: February 14, 2018

Uninvolved, do not care about the students, do not fix the problems and there are many.

Posted: February 14, 2018

Posted: February 14, 2018

The adults are afraid of the bullies, they do nothing.

Posted: February 14, 2018

This is by far the worst school across the board I have ever seen. My kids have been to 12 different schools in 12 different states and this one is in the negative. I wouldn’t put my dogs here if I had it to go over again. If you heed no other advice, listen to me, DO NOT PUT YOUR KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL!! From administration all the way down to the kids, it’s the worst. My child is frightened in her geometry class that she won’t even look other kids in the eyes. Thankfully, they’re only there for one class a day and go to the ATC for the rest. I give this school a -10

Posted: September 10, 2016

Most (most) of the teachers I've had are great. They do their best to help and make it easier for you, but often I've heard other students complain of teachers who don't teach and leave it to the students to teach themselves through the textbooks.
The guidance counselors are not helpful. Most of the time they do not know the information to what you need and are only capable of directing you to another staff member or setting up your schedule(which aften gets screwed up as well). My guidance counselor is never available, never at school before classes start and always in a meeting during lunches.

Posted: September 1, 2016

They have developed both my daughters into great students, athletes and leaders. Wouldn't trade it.

Posted: September 1, 2016

Both of my daughters graduated from Kempsville High. The teachers and staff care about each and every student. There were many great mentors for my girls.

Posted: November 19, 2015

My parental experience with Kempsville High School, Kempsville Middle School, & Woodstock Elementary School was the best. I personally believe Kempsville District Schools remain in the top 2-4 of all VB districts. My kids went on to William & Mary with AP credits! Nice staff.

Posted: November 19, 2015

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Posted: May 5, 2015

Great community school. Super well - educated staff. Don't believe some test scores reflect the school in general. Large % of college - bound students......super military families too.

Posted: September 13, 2014

Kempsville High School has been a great school for my daughter! She is always working at the top of her academic game, honors classes as well as, AP courses that challenge her and keep her driven. The courses offered are exactly what she needs to be successful and is on track for college. The Drama program is excellent and she has found a new 'family' in this club, and it is wonderful to have such supportive people surrounding her through her high school journey. It is a wonderful school with people who care and work hard!

Posted: March 27, 2014

The teachers are experts in their subjects and truly enjoy the art of teaching. They have an incredible ability to relate to the students and bring the subject alive.

Posted: January 12, 2014

When it comes to discipline at Kempsville rules are arbitrary. Rules for being tardy are not defined at all and punishments that are listed are in direct contradiction with actual punishments. The administration is disrespectful. I may be old fashioned, but I resent being addressed by my first name when I have already introduced myself with my professional title. When visiting the school I have overheard the administration and some teachers not only yelling at students for minor offenses, they also belittle them. The environment is so negative I have chosen to take my child out of the system and home school him.

Posted: July 9, 2013

I currently go to Kempsville high and despite what most people think, it truly is a wonderful school. Since it is so small, one of the smallest student bodies in VBPS system, it's fairly peaceful. There are fights every now and then but no more, if not less, than any other high school. The teachers and staff are truly one of a kind. Many of the staff members have either attended Kempsville previously or are related to someone who has. It's one of the things I love most about Kempsville. Also since we have such a small student to teacher ratio, the student gets a chance to connect with their teacher. And the teachers spend a large deal of the time trying to help that student whenever they can. Kempsville is a wonderful school, and once your here, you'll always feel like a chief.

Posted: January 22, 2013

This school has gone down hill since 2004. The band has went from awesome and one of the best, to almost non-existent. Some teachers have been there too long and their skills to keep the student's attention is lacking. Almost weekly a fight will break out and the security guards take their good ol' time breaking them up. The other students, who seem to have no morals, video tape the fights also. And don't forget to lock up all your belongings, because if you don't, it may not be there after class.

Reviewed: April 27, 2012

In Virginia Beach, High Schools have Academies attached to their HS. The students zoned for a specific HS go to that HS or they can test or apply to go to a different HS and be in their Academy.

Schools without Academies are:
1) COX HS
2) KELLAM HS
3) GREEN RUN HS
4) KEMPSVILLE HS

Academies attached to HS are:
1) OCEANLAKES HS- Math Science Advanced Academy – students must test to get in
2) PRINCESS ANNE HS- International Baccalaureate (IB) Advanced Academy- students must test to get in
3) FIRST COLONIAL HS- Legal Studies Academy- students accepted by application
4) BAYSIDE HS- Health Science Academy- students accepted by application
5) SALEM HS- Performing Arts Academy- students accepted by application
6) TALLWOOD HS- Global Studies Academy- students accepted by application
7) LANDSTOWN HS- Technology Academy- students accepted by application