Virginia Beach School Board Approves New High School Courses
The district is adding several advanced academic classes across multiple high schools.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Virginia Beach School Board recently approved a slate of new high school courses, including Advanced Placement cybersecurity and anatomy and physiology. These additions offer students expanded opportunities in specialized fields like business and philosophy.
Why it matters
The new offerings are designed to align with college-level standards and provide students with diverse academic pathways. Several courses were developed to mirror curriculum updates at regional institutions to better prepare students for higher education.
AP business and AP cybersecurity courses are available to students in grades 10-12 across the district. The anatomy and physiology course requires an investment of $15,000 for instructional materials.
The players
Virginia Beach School Board
The local governing body responsible for overseeing the public school district and approving curriculum changes.
Tidewater Community College
A public institution partnering with the district to provide specific high school-level management and philosophy coursework.
Princess Anne High School
A local secondary school that will host expanded German language options as part of its international baccalaureate program.
Kempsville High School
A local high school designated to offer principles of management and philosophy logic courses.
The details
New classes include German 1-5 to support the international baccalaureate program at Princess Anne High School, while Kempsville High School will host principles of management and philosophy logic. These management and philosophy courses are offered through a partnership with Tidewater Community College.
Timeline
The School Board officially approved the new courses on October 27, 2026.
Culture Shift
The expansion of German language options at Princess Anne High School follows the standards set by the international baccalaureate program. This decision extends the framework of the program by increasing the language offerings available to local students.
Students in grades 10-12 across Virginia Beach will gain access to new Advanced Placement business and cybersecurity options. Some specialized courses will be restricted to specific campuses, potentially impacting daily travel plans for students choosing those programs.
The takeaway
Students looking to enroll in the new courses should review the specific school requirements, as some options involve tuition fees or specific campus locations. Planning ahead for academic schedules will ensure students can access these new specialized programs.
Further reading
For more information on local academic programs, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Press.
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