National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

Students who attend Old Donation come from all elementary and middle schools across Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS). They are first identified for gifted services, then accepted into the academic, visual arts, and/or dance education programs. While the academic program (grades two through eight) serves students five days a week, the gifted art (grades three through five) and gifted dance (grades three through eight) operate as pull-out programs where students are educated in their arts field one day per week.

Old Donation serves as a beacon for all schools who seek a model for high quality instruction that is student-centered, open-ended, conceptually based, and inquiry driven. The school staff members are strong collaborators who use gifted education methods to organize robust and engaging instruction that balances high expectations with equally strong support. Guests routinely visit Old Donation to learn about gifted education, high quality instruction, service and leadership, innovation, sustainability, and using a LEED building as a teaching tool.