Each day in Newport News Public Schools (NNPS), we focus on one mission: ensuring that all students graduate college, career and citizen-ready. This is vitally important for our students’ future success. Recognizing that not all students have to take the same path, NNPS offers numerous options and opportunities for our students, and we are earning recognition for our unique program options.
The school division was recently recognized as a system of top schools by Virginia Living magazine. NNPS is listed among the top schools and universities for 2024. The magazine’s editorial staff reviews school curriculum, programs and accomplishments, and selects schools that have successfully strengthened students’ experiences.
The magazine recognized NNPS for our commitment to college, career and citizen-readiness and noted that our Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual enrollment, Early College, STEM, Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Early Career programs ensure students have viable career and additional educational options. Virginia Living also noted the school division’s nationally recognized youth development programming, which builds essential skills and empowers students to lead, serve and contribute, beginning in preschool and continuing through grade 12.
We are proud of this recognition and our unique programs.
- NNPS offers more Advanced Placement (AP) courses than any other school district or private school on the Virginia Peninsula. AP courses are open to all; students with qualifying grades may earn college credit.
- High school juniors and seniors have the option of earning college credit and high school credit concurrently through dual-enrollment courses at Virginia Peninsula Community College and Norfolk State University.
- High school seniors may earn up to 19 semester hours of college credit prior to high school graduation in the Early College program, a unique partnership with Virginia Peninsula Community College. During their senior year, students complete their high school coursework in the first semester and attend VPCC during the second semester.
- With innovative instruction, new technologies, take-home science kits, engineering design challenges and resourceful business partners, students at all levels are engaged in hands-on and minds-on activities that prepare them for further education and rewarding career possibilities in STEM.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses are designed around industry standards to ensure high-quality instruction for high-wage, high-demand and high-skill careers. CTE courses prepare students to earn more than a dozen industry certifications. NNPS students can take these courses, without leaving their high school and earn certifications in Microsoft Office, EKG, phlebotomy, financial literacy, nursing assisting, television production, culinary arts and criminal justice, just to name a few. Successful completion of the certification process ensures that NNPS students are prepared for success in the current labor market since professional certifications are based on industry performance requirements. Industry and professional certifications are valuable credentials that give our students a competitive edge.
- High school seniors can jumpstart their careers through the Early Career program. Our Early Career in Welding Program, in partnership with Virginia Peninsula Community College, gives high school seniors concentrated, hands-on welding training in an accelerated learning environment from the region’s best welding instructors. After successful completion of five courses, job placement support is provided so students can enter the workforce immediately following high school graduation.
- Our Youth Development program has a unique infrastructure of dedicated school-based teams who implement evidenced-based programming at every school. Youth Development emphasizes student empowerment and leadership, inclusivity, positive school culture and mentoring while teaching important social and emotional skills.
With magnet schools, Governor’s Academies, early college and career programs and robust youth development programming, Newport News Public Schools is the smart place to learn and grow.
