VBSchools history

In 1870, the Virginia Constitution provided that all localities must establish public school systems, presided over by a superintendent. (Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society)

The second structure for Creeds Elementary was built in 1908 in Creeds, Virginia, approximately 5 miles south of the present building.

In November 1941, the present Bayside Elementary opened at a cost of $65,000.

In 1949, construction started for additional space for Princess Anne County Training School.

Princess Anne High Opening Date: 1954 First Principal: J. Warren Littleton Interesting Facts: Princess Anne High School is the oldest secondary school in Virginia Beach.

The school was contracted to be built in 1955 with a maximum capacity of 850 students the original school had.

John B. Dey Elementary Opening Date: 1956 First Principal: Joseph J. Owens Jr.

Princess Anne County Training School later expanded in size and the facility and was renamed Union Kempsville High School in 1962.

In 1963, an entire wing (100 hall) was built and extensions were added to the 200 hall, 300 hall and the cafeteria.

Bayside High Opening Date: 1964 First Principal: Norman W. Morris Interesting Facts:

Kellam’s first graduating class of 176 students received their diplomas in June 1965.

In 1966, when First Colonial High opened, Virginia Beach High became Virginia Beach Junior High.

Holland Elementary Opening Date: 1967 First Principal: Mrs.

Brookwood Elementary Opening Date: 1968 First Principal: Estell Davis Interesting Facts: The renovated building is one of the most advanced elementary complexes in Virginia Beach.

The dedication of the first renovation of the school was held March 15, 1970.

With the Virginia Beach population expanding, in September 1972, two mobile classrooms were added to aid congestion.

Princess Anne Middle Opening Date: 1974 First Principal: George B. Shields Interesting Facts:

Overview Fairfield Elementary was built in 1975, to serve the rapidly growing population of the Kempsville Borough.

Students were housed at Brookwood, Plaza, Holland and Windsor Oaks elementary schools until the new building was completed in 1976.

Overview In the spring of 1977, the Virginia Beach School Board approved construction of a new school to house the increasing school population in the Kempsville area.

Green Run High Opening Date: 1979 First Principal: Wylie French Interesting Facts: Green Run is one of three Virginia Beach schools built on land that can be traced back to the Algonquin Indian settlements.

The open classroom format was disbanded in 1981 for a more traditional instructional arrangement.

Great Neck Middle Opening Date: 1983 First Principal: Frank Peele Interesting Facts: The design for the original building was taken from a Norfolk public school – Azalea Gardens Junior High.

Centerville Elementary Opening Date: 1984 First Principal: George Chandler Interesting Facts: Centerville was built on land that was once Brown Farm.

Construction of the 137,250 square foot building began in March of 1985.

Overview Salem High opened in September 1989 and is a 258,862 square foot facility.

Salem High opened in 1990 and Green Run’s student population dropped to 1,500.

In the fall of 1993, Salem Junior High adopted the middle school concept, housing grades six through eight.

Larkspur Middle Opening Date: 1994 First Principal: John Sutherland Interesting Facts: Larkspur Middle is the largest middle school in Virginia Beach.

A fire destroyed about one-third of the building in September 1995, four days before the new school year began.

The new wing (the 900 hall), consisting of 26 science classrooms and labs, opened in January 1996.

The King's Grant community continued to grow over the years and a new addition was added to the school in 1997.

The building was demolished in 1999 with a ground breaking held August 2, 1999, for the new $8,885,900 school built on the original site.

In 2000, the “new” Cooke opened at the same 15th Street site.

Landstown High Opening Date: 2001 First Principal: John Frossard Interesting Facts: Landstown High was the first Virginia Beach high school built in the 21st Century.

21, 2002, and the new facility opened in September 2002.

In 2008, they received the Governor’s School of Excellence Award making them one of 89 schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia to achieve this honor.