First Colonial High School

1272 Mill Dam Road

School District

VA Beach City Public Schools
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for VA Beach City Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 03, 2024

Some teachers care and some dont. Some play favorites such as LSA English. Avoid 3d art, super snippy and rude to special needs kids. It's really upsetting my kids keep telling me how this lady bullies the special ed kids! Thank goodness my kid is outta here shortly!!! It's been eye opening that the teachers are big bullies than the kids. Counselors and admin have been wonderful, sports are top notch and the kids while not very motivated haven't been an issue.
Submitted by other on February 28, 2024

Graduated in 2020. Pretty bad school. Rats and roaches literally all over the place. Teachers would barely meet criteria for the year. Administration was absolutely horrible and genuinely has no care in the world for their students. Counselors have absolutely no idea how to handle or support students with mental health issues that are very common to arise in high school. Just overall horrible.
Submitted by other on January 11, 2022

I am a recent graduate. I wish I had never gone to this school. To say that this place broke me and left me worse off is an understatement. I lost any passion I had for education, nor do I know what path I want to take at all. I wish I had been homeschooled or gone to a private school. I'd likely be better off. With that being said, when I have children, I would never bring them to a public school due to my experiences being at this one. Classrooms are a negative space when I think of one now.Most teachers often recycled material, therefore the lessons lacked any sort of passion. Some teachers couldn't even teach. Others rattled on about their home life during class. Then there were the coaches who got teaching or hall monitor jobs, and as you might guess, they had favorites in class if you played sports. I was forced to be in classes I didn't sign up for, even ending up in an all male class, with a football coach/teacher. I told him I was uncomfortable there and he treated me like I was lower because of it. Teachers were often the bullies here, they also allowed bullying if they also didn't like a student that was being bullied.I still have nightmares about this place and hate what it has done to me as a result. I no longer wish to be in a learning environment due to my negative outlook on it.
Submitted by other on January 11, 2022

I am a recent graduate. I wish I had never gone to this school. To say that this place broke me and left me worse off is an understatement. I lost any passion I had for education, nor do I know what path I want to take at all. I wish I had been homeschooled or gone to a private school. I'd likely be better off. With that being said, when I have children, I would never bring them to a public school due to my experiences being at this one. Classrooms are a negative space when I think of one now.Most teachers often recycled material, therefore the lessons lacked any sort of passion. Some teachers couldn't even teach. Others rattled on about their home life during class. Then there were the coaches who got teaching or hall monitor jobs, and as you might guess, they had favorites in class if you played sports. I was forced to be in classes I didn't sign up for, even ending up in an all male class, with a football coach/teacher. I told him I was uncomfortable there and he treated me like I was lower because of it. No surprise, I had something horrible happen to me in front of him by one of the male peers and he did nothing to stop it. I lost my gym uniform near the end of the year since someone stole it. A gym teacher (male) offered no solution other than coming into the boys locker room everytime I had gym and digging through a bin for one. A biology teacher made me miss a whole lesson because she wanted me to change in the nurses office. The drama teacher was so awful and mean to students that almost everyone quit her afterschool program after the first show. A Japanese teacher used to also humiliate me in front of class until another student helped me understand my mistake. Teachers were often the bullies here, they also allowed bullying if they also didn't like a student that was being bullied.On the other hand I witnessed a student steal a teachers phone go through her texts. Teachers almost getting beat in the halls, and most of the time, it was the good ones getting this treatment. Genuinely good teachers were rare at this school. I'm thankful for them at least.I still have nightmares about this place and hate what it has done to me as a result. I no longer wish to be in a learning environment due to my negative outlook on it.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2021

This is a sorry excuse of a school. I don't understand how the administrator has kept her position, people say she is just biding time until retirement.It seems most of the positive reviews are being written by the Legal Studies students (LSA). The LSA is a school within the school. LSA has their own activities to keep them involved, challenged and bonded. They have their own Guidance, classes, and ways of disseminating information to parents, etc. If your student is LSA, they will be fine.If not, good luck. If you doubt it, just check the school website. What's listed under "Upcoming Activities"? Nothing. Who is the Student Activities coordinator? They do have one, but their staff list isn't even complete. Where can you find the clubs/sports/organizations w/the sponsor & contact information? You can't. Look under "news & important information", you'll find how to change a password. It has been this way for years, despite numerous complaints. Getting kids involved and interested in school is NOT a priority in the regular school, only in LSA. Communication is abysmal. Since the PA system does not work in some parts of the school and students miss morning announcements, they could record the morning announcements and put them on the website but they don't. Again, getting students involved and interested is not a priority. When PTSA does plan something i.e. "Fun Friday" it's not for ALL of the classes. Only the classes whose teachers participate gets to play & win gift cards and such. Teachers don't even know which days are spirit days, let alone students. When the overcrowded school went to "one lunch", kids ate in the halls on the floor or with their clique in a favorite teacher's room. There were supposed to be activities for students or other places for them to eat. Other district schools implemented great ideas. Again, student involvement or spirit, not a priority. Additionally, electives offered are extremely lacking because they can't retain staff. IT Fundamentals (beginning computer for 9th graders) isn't offered at FC, but is at other schools. The college process information doesn't begin at FC until Sept/Oct of the Senior year- some colleges are accepting applications already by that time. Yes, it's a rat and roach infested old building, but that is not what causes the lack of school spirit. It is the inequity, apathy and lack of leadership from the admin. It needs leadership that cares about getting students interested and involved.
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2020

7/6/2020 - Parent here.... so far we have loved every bit of this school . My daughter is a rising senior. She participates in two activities within the school and has been since a freshman. She is not an AP student and I am a single mom . This school does have a pro dominantly white population but that has not affected her social or academic progress . She gets a long with all and has never come home with complaints about students or staff . She has attended school in VB since Kindergarten and this is the first school that we have had zero complaints . Wonderful atmosphere and the teachers are phenomenal. Very invested in their students. I would recommend you bring your children to First Colonial.
Submitted by student on May 22, 2020

Great. Everyone there was nice and it was a great experience.
Submitted by student on June 01, 2017

FC is a really good school, but it should work a little more with bully and respect to other people from different races. I attended FC from my freshman year through my senior year and I really got a good experience, but I would say they are good and bad people and sometimes people treat other people like they are nothing and that's one thing that I hated so much from FC they really should work with bully and respect to others people, otherwise is a good school an de they offer a good education to the students.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2017

Excellent! My daughter is a senior in the Legal Studies Academy and is well prepared for college.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2016

First Colonial High School has great programs to advance your level of education prior to college. They always offer meet and greats in the beginning of the high school years to introduce children to different colleges, certified programs and other career options. They have several clubs and community programs to keep children involved.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2016

The interaction and the communication the school has with both students and teachers. Eldest son was very successful and next son is having a great experience.
Submitted by other on December 07, 2015

FCHS is an alright school. I graduated from here and only attended for my senior year due to my dad being in the military. It is a little cramped, as it used to be a middle school...lots of portables. When I was there the rules were pretty ridiculous (an ISS for checking the time on my phone...seriously?), but since then, the rules in VBCPS have become pretty lax. Of course there are annoying kids there, but that can be said about any school. Most of them are laid back and cool since most of the oceanfront goes there. I made some really good friends in the LSA (wasn't in it) and in just the normal zoning. Some of the teachers were hornery, but some of them were pretty awesome. Lots of artsy people here. I feel like I was able to be creative and develop myself more in the two art classes I took. Looking back, it was a pretty fun experience.
Submitted by other on September 02, 2014

Ok all y'all saying FC is a terrible school can go away and shutup. FC is an amazing school and I'm happy to go there!!! The teachers are nice and truste me I've meet terrible teachers so stop and the academy kids are ok my sis is in the academy and she loves it . If you pay attention and actually LISTEN TO YOUR KID you would see they are happy. I've went from Windsor woods elementary to plaza middle school to green run (for a month) then to first colonial and out of all the schools this is the only time I'm happy to go to school so yeah
Submitted by student on August 18, 2014

Okay, this school is terrible. Most of the teachers are bullies (slight few aren't). I was told that I failed one of my sols and then I showed up to take it and they had gotten it wrong. I stressed for weeks over it and then didn't have to take it. There's no school spirit (at least in my class). Can't wait for june so I can finally be done with this school.
Submitted by student on April 07, 2014

The school is awful the kids or horrible the drug problems are so bad. The guidance and office don't care I have tried to get help multiple times. There are a few good teachers but most are horrible the school only cares about the unaccomplished and not the kids with true potential I switched schools because ti was so awesome
Submitted by parent on April 07, 2014

Terrible school, teachers harass students and get away with it. Academy students are left to feel alone and seperate from school. They keep the drug use under wraps and haress students who dont play along. The teaching is so-so and if any open up-they are punished-teachers included. Ask the ones in portables. Money talks and you get no where if you try stick up your child. I am glad we left, terrible place.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2014

FC High is the best in Va Beach! The teachers communicate with the parents regularly. Great staff and the new principal keeps the kids in line.
Submitted by other on September 05, 2013

I really do enjoy attending the Legal Studies Academy, but some of their rules and regulations are stressing me out! I am very fearful about being late because of the tardy window. Even if you are late for lunch you have to go to the tardy window. That seems to be my only problem. I really enjoy the teachers even if it is the third day of school. They are really funny and fun to be around. I would recommend this school to anyone else out if they were interested in law. If the tardy window wasn't so intimidating, this would have gotten five stars!
Submitted by student on September 04, 2013

First Colonial is a school that is second to none! I am a student leader at FC and I can say that I would not want to go anywhere else. As a member of the academy, I do live out of district and also had other options on the table for high school but I chose FC and love every minute. As SCA President, I get to know a lot of the student body and the majority of the faculty and staff and they are some of the greatest people ever. For a public high school, we have diversity but acceptance. Everyone has a place where they fit and with 53 clubs and dozens of sports teams, everyone can join something they are interested in. Every at FC feels welcome and part of the Patriot Family! It really is the best school at the beach.
Submitted by student on November 29, 2012

I came from a private school, and was a tad nervous about attending a public school. I was also worried that the education wouldn't be the same, but I was pleasantly surprised. Honestly, in some aspects First Colonial did a better job than private school. The teachers are welcoming, and the students made me feel right at home. This is a great school!