Kempsville High School is one of eleven public high schools in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools system. It is a comprehensive high school for students in grades 9-12. Located in the western section of the city, the Kempsville High School covers approximately 12 sq. miles, and draws students from both Kempsville Middle School and Larkspur Middle School. In the Fall of 2016, Kempsville High School will be home to the Virginia Beach City Public Schools newest academy program, The Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School. Students from across the school division can apply to attend this new academy program. A normal school day at Kempsville High is organized into an A/B block schedule with four class periods. Semester courses earn one-half credit, and year courses earn one credit upon successful completion of the course. All students at Kempsville High School have the opportunity to earn dual enrollment credit through Tidewater Community College, attend the Governor’s Magnet School for the Arts, attend the Technical and Career Education Center, attend the Advanced Technology Center, and the evening credit program at Renaissance Academy.The school mission statement is “Kempsville High School is committed to equipping students to be independent, responsible, academically proficient, technically and globally literate critical and creative thinkers."
School administration
- Mr. William W. Harris - Principal
- Dr. Donna G. Elliott - Assistant Principal
- Mrs. Melissa S. George - Assistant Principal
- Mr. D. Brad Barbour - Assistant Principal
- Mrs. Meghan A. Timlin - Entrepreneurship and Business Academy Coordinator
- Mr. Tim P. Wolf - Student Activities Coordinator
- Ms. Allison Farnsworth - School Improvement Specialist
- Ms. April Harmon - Guidance Director
History
Kempsville High School opened its doors to students in 1924. The original building, plus its adjacent gymnasium, still stand to this day. The present building, which opened in 1966, is the third building to have the name Kempsville High School. From 1959 until 1966, students living in the Kempsville area attended Princess Anne High School. In 1966, when the growth of the city required the construction of neighborhood high schools, Kempsville High School reopened at its current location, serving grades eight through twelve. In 1969, grades eight and nine moved to the newly opened Kempsville Junior High School. The ninth grade moved back to the high school in September 1993. Currently, Kempsville High School houses approximately 1,500 students in grades nine through twelve. It is located about one mile south of Interstate 264. The mascot is an Indian Chief and the school colors are red, royal blue, and silver.
Curriculum
Kempsville High School offers an array of academic courses that include standard courses, honors courses and advanced placement courses, these courses include: AP Studio Art, AP Art History, AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP European History, AP Psychology, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science, AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP French Language, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP German Language, and AP Latin: Vergil.
The Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School will offer courses within three academic strand areas: Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Business Information Technology, and Corporate Finance. Students enrolled in the academy program and pursue an associate degree through Tidewater Community College.
Enrollment
Statistics and demographics
The enrollment during the 2015-16 school year was 1,456 students.
The average class size in the 2015-16 School Year were:
- 22.1 students in English,
- 21.7 students in Math,
- 23.4 students in Science and
- 24.5 students in Social Studies
according to the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Annual School Report Card 2015-16.
The following is the percentage of students according to ethnicity according to the 2015-16 Virginia Beach City Public Schools Annual School Report Card:
- African American: 20.7%
- American Indian: 0.5%
- Asian: 4.1%
- Caucasian: 59.0%
- Hispanic: 9.8%
- Native Hawaiian: 0.3%
- Multiracial: 5.6%
- Female students: 47.6%
- Male students: 52.4%
- Economically Disadvantaged students: 33.1%
- Gifted Students: 9.1%
- Students with Limited English Proficiency: 0.1%
- Special Education Students: 16.3%
Extracurricular activities
Kempsville High School offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities and VHSL Sports for students to participate in. For more information visit the Kempsville High School athletics page: http://www.kempsvillesports.org/
Notable alumni
- Charles "Chase Chad" Hugo (1992), half of the production duo "The Neptunes", and N*E*R*D band member.
- Kenna Zemedkun, solo artist (music).
- D.J. Dozier (1983), former professional baseball player and NFL Running Back.
- J.R. Reid (1986), former NBA Player and 5th pick of the 1989 NBA Draft.
- Steve Jolley (1993), MLS Soccer Player.
- Lady Miss Kier (1981), entertainer, former lead singer of Deee-Lite
- Jason Winston George (1990), Actor.
- Anton Gunn (1991), American politician.
- Andy Kubiszewski (1979), drummer, songwriter, and producer
- Nancy Naigle (1979), USA TODAY Bestselling Author
- Mark Phelps (1984), head basketball coach at Drake University.
- Bruce Ridge (1982) symphonic bassist, arts advocate, labor leader. Chairman-International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
References
External links
- About Kempsville High School
- Kempsville band
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools
- Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School