This school has been awesome forever. It is truly a "Leave it to Beaver" school, for those of an…read moreage to remember that sitcom. I was PTA President for 2 years in the late 80's/early 90's time period. And it was one of the most special times of my life. Becky Harvey was Principal. Ed Timlin, who later was the long time Principal at Arrowhead Elementary, was Assistant Principal. They were an awesome team. The staff & teachers were top notch. One couldn't have asked for better. Parental involvement, teacher & staff care, safety, nurturing, a location steeped in the history that was the beginning of the English colonies, and classmates who are eager to excel & learn.... This and more is what you will find at Thoroughgood Elementary.

I have been holding off on this review because I wanted to provide a balanced approach to this…read moreVirginia Beach Lower School. It is my opinion that this is one of the premier city schools, but am I being subjective in a 5 star rating of where my children attend. I do think that I am being fair and I will provide some details about the school, it's history so as to back up my rating. I will also provide stats on performance which is what ultimately determines a schools success. The school is named after Adam Thoroughgood the city's founding colonist who was an indentured servant that rose to becoming one of Virginia's earliest burgesses and later, a member of the Governor's Council. In 1635, he was granted 5,360 acres in return for the transportation of himself, his wife and 105 persons. One of his "head rights" Augustine Warner, is of particular significance. He became the great-great-grand father of President George Washington. The land that the present day school and Thoroughgood neighborhood sets on is part of that original land grant by the King of England which makes this area so special. The current Principal at TES is Dr. Cheryl Zigrang in her 14th year at this position. She is the backbone to this place of learning for children K-5. Her caring attitude and compassionate attitude is contagious throughout the caring staff that she manages. Her high standards of academics and consistent utilization of the kids remembering a number of rules and manners has elevated this school of 700 students into the "Best of Virginia Beach". Dr. Z has been offered promotions to administration and turned them down as her calling is at the school she one day hopes to retire in. The building itself is one of the cities oldest, constructed in the mid 1950's. Even though old it is very well maintained by long time janitor Mr. Harold Lawrence. It is over due for a new build out and the School Board recently approved a time table of 2016-2018 for a new TES. It will be put in the present day ball field while keeping the current facility in operation through construction. How about the performance of Thoroughgood. Well let's start out with saying it is a fully accredited school in the state of Virginia. It also has received the 2012 Governor's Award for Education Excellence numerous times and is without a doubt one of the cities top schools. Of course the benchmark the state of Virginia uses is Standard of Learning, or SOL. Consistently TES is not only one of the top schools in our city, but the state of Virginia. A snap shot of one piece of data, the 5th grade writing exam. Going back to 2005 and every year to 2012 Thoroughgood has exceeded district and state standards, thus one of the reasons for the Governors Award on a annual basis. When I say this this school is awesome, it's not just lip service. We had one of our children at a pricy private school in the area and discovered this is a great value, offers just as much challenge and is safe from of the schenanigan's that other schools are plagued with. Anyone reading this review and unsure about how to go about obtaining more info it is easy. Call the school and arrange a tour that will be conducted most likely by Dr. Z herself. We love our TES Flying Seagulls.

I'm writing this as parent with a child that had been recently enrolled, because I wish I had more…read morecurrent reviews before deciding to enroll my child in The Court House Academy. This school is not what it used to be. Years ago, it had a strong reputation and long-standing teachers who had been there for 20+ years. Unfortunately, since the administration changed, there has been a clear decline. All those experienced teachers are gone, and the turnover now is extremely concerning. The biggest problem is the constant teacher turnover during the school year. Teachers leave in the middle of the term, and the classrooms never seem to have stability. This has seriously disrupted the curriculum and, more importantly, it has made my child feel uneasy. Children need consistency to feel secure and ready to learn. When my child kept seeing new teachers every few weeks, it created confusion and a lack of trust in the classroom environment to the point that drop offs went to a happy and smooth process to a nightmare because she didn't want to be there. In our case, my child had five different teachers in just the first quarter of the school year. Since then, the Spanish teachers were continued rotating with no clear continuity. Because of this, my child did not learn Spanish at the level the school promotes. Honestly, she learned more Spanish during a one-month visit with her grandparents than she did the entire year at this school, which was very disappointing. What makes this even more frustrating is the lack of communication from the administration. Parents are not properly informed when these teachers' changes happen. We always find out after seeing the new teachers when we drop off, which does not build trust and leaves us feeling out of the loop. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this school. The instability in staffing, poor communication, and overall decline since the administration change have had a real negative impact on our child's learning and sense of security.

When we first started coming to this school, they couldn't hold onto teachers. They were…read moreconsistently rotating through staff members. They also don't know how to assist children who are on the spectrum and send them home if they are too disruptive. Doesnt matter what you pay a week, you wont see that money again once its charged. They charge you an absurd fee if you are a few minutes early. They will call you to have your child picked up if the teachers cannot handle child like behaviors. They say they will charge half price on holidays, they always charge full price. Snowed in? Too bad you're still paying $300+ a week for daycare. The teachers we had that didnt up and quit were fantastic, its the admin that are the problem. If you look at the schools indeed reviews they are treated poorly by management.

food is so bad and makes me sick they served pizza right and THERE WAS WATER OR SOME LIQUID ON THE…read moreBOTTOM OF THE PIZZA -0/10 and so much kids be spamming the N word.

horrible experience and they forced to eat donkey legs and yeehwwww and be very skibidi rizzread more

This school is a great atmosphere for children. Teachers care about their students! In Home…read moreschool Unlimited students get the individual attention they need for success. There so many extracurricular activities that appeal to children, again small groups where they can participate and succeed. My experiences include first grade and sewing classes.

Just attended mommy & me and music school for the first time this morning with my 15 month old…read moredaughter. She had an excellent time, and I can tell that she will learn a lot as we continue classes. Thanks Virginia!

This school is fantastic! I've recommended it to friends, and they've all enrolled their children…read morehere. They all love it as much as I do! The teachers are kind and professional, and there's a lot of cultural diversity. We are so lucky to have Ms Danielle as our daughter's teacher. She is very kind, sweet and professional, she is a great teacher! The school is beautiful, with a huge and green playground. They also spend a lot of time outdoors. Definitely worth taking a tour and see if this is a good fit for your family as well!

A Hidden Gem in Virginia Beach!…read more Rollingwood Academy has been an absolute blessing to our family for the past four years. From the very first day, we knew this school was something special--but looking back now, we realize it's been even more than we ever imagined. The teachers and staff are truly second to none. They are warm, loving, incredibly dedicated, and make every child feel seen, supported, and celebrated. The care and attention they give to each student is remarkable--they've created an environment where kids are not only learning, but thriving. One thing we've especially appreciated is how incredibly communicative the staff is. Whether it's through the ClassDojo app or via email, we always felt in the loop and connected to what our son was learning and experiencing each day. That kind of transparency and partnership with parents is priceless. Another beautiful part of our time at Rollingwood has been the community of families we've met along the way. Keeping the kids together year after year has allowed them to form deep, meaningful friendships, and we've built our own bonds with other parents that we'll carry with us for years to come. It truly feels like an extended family. And here's one of my favorite things: our son hugs every teacher hello and goodbye, every single day. Drop-off and pick-up can take a while, but it's the sweetest "problem" to have--because it shows just how much love and connection he feels with every adult in that building. That kind of relationship is rare and beautiful. Our son has grown into a confident, curious, and kind young learner, and it's all thanks to the foundation Rollingwood has given him. He's absolutely ready for 1st grade, and we credit that to the strong academic and social-emotional development he received here. It's been amazing to watch him blossom! The school itself is clean, organized, and full of joyful energy--from creative classroom projects to sweet holiday programs, every day is a new adventure. We've always felt like part of a close-knit community, and that is something truly rare and special. If you're looking for a school where your child will be loved, challenged, and inspired, check out Rollingwood Academy. We are forever grateful for this amazing place!

I've been real happy with my experience so far. The school is clean, the teachers are great and my…read morekid is happy. My four year old boy loves his classmates and his teachers. I was impressed that they are giving us feedback on his letters. My kid never gets sick either! Last time I had him in a different daycare he was getting a cold every three weeks.

Love this school...the staff is welcoming and genuinely care about the students and families they…read moreserve....

My son has been going here since kindergarten. This is actually his fourth year at SJA. Removed him…read morefrom public school because the kids were just straight up bullies and my son wasn't doing well. Not saying he's a cry baby, but he would beg me not to take him to school. What was I to do? So I did my research and St. John was even recommended to me. Let me say that it has been a blessing. My son has improved his behavior, academics, etc. People want to criticize private schools because of the religion portion. Well, let me just say SJA has been open since August and not a single case. They have it all under control. I feel blessed and grateful my child is back in a classroom.

I loved my time here as a student. I went to school here for middle school from September 2010 to…read moreMay 2013. Not a day went by where I didn't enjoy having both faith and academics synthesized in such a way that bettered me as a person outside of school. The teachers were always willing to help the students after school hours and had an obvious interest in engaging the students in their schoolwork. I entered high school feeling well prepared socially, emotionally, and academically. My one wish is that I had more time in this phenomenal environment. I have a lasting relationship with this school today since my younger cousins go here now and am met with familiar and smiling faces every time I walk through the door. Love the school and the staff.

It's easy look perfect on the outside, but everyone's true colors show at some point. Take it for…read moreme, a prior student who witnessed a lot firsthand. The school does not uphold to their "Christian standards" when it comes to behind the scenes. Very homophobic and not understanding or compassionate when it comes to mental health. I did at the school for 12 years and have seen too many situation handled extremely poorly and I am truly disappointed and disgusted by the things that they PICK AND CHOOSE to allow... I would absolutely consider their school to have an emotionally abusive environment. This school has deleted my review on their Facebook page. Seems they don't like negative feedback

Incredible school! My daughter is finishing up 3rd grade and is coming back next year! The…read moreteachers take time with their students, and the size of the classes lend to more one on one time with their kids. The administration cares and is involved in student life. If you are looking for a private school the cost is significantly lover then others.

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Overpriced, however considering the public school system it's either pay me now or pay me later…read more Let's face it the educational system in this country has been ruined by folks with 'perceptual errors' that tend to get nearly everything and everyone backwards. Unfortunately our public school system and kids have paid the price. Cape Henry is a fine school with good teachers the high tuition is probably a good thing because it keeps out the undesirables. I'm not saying they're aren't some rotten apples here, but they're capped and somewhat isolated whereas in the public schools the rotten apples often own the place.

As a student here, it's a good school. Teachers are really nice, and good education…read more I'm about to go to 5th grade, and I am honestly excited. I never see bullies. Spacious. Great teachers! Would recommend.

My concerns with this school begin at the front office, specifically with the level of customer…read moreservice, professionalism, and basic courtesy demonstrated by the Registrar. Unfortunately, my experiences have left me with the impression that parents are not consistently treated with the level of respect and professionalism they should reasonably expect when dealing with an elementary school. During my 2nd visit at the school on 20AUG26, I was in the office completing my child's registration. My child was playing with another child in the designated play area within the office. The Registrar loudly stated, almost to the point of yelling, that this was a "place of business" and that the children were not supposed to be playing there. I understand that the front office is an administrative workspace and that staff have responsibilities that require an orderly environment. However, the manner in which this was communicated was unnecessarily harsh and, in my opinion, inappropriate for an elementary-school setting--particularly when the children were in an area apparently intended for them. There is a significant difference between appropriately redirecting children and speaking to them in a manner that makes them feel unwelcome in their own school. A simple, respectful request would have accomplished the same objective without creating an uncomfortable interaction. My experience today 11SEP26 was even more concerning. I approached the Registrar and asked to speak with a guidance counselor. I was told, "They're all in meetings." I then asked whether she could help me get on a counselor's schedule. After I asked the question, there was no response. I waited approximately two minutes, expecting either an answer or some direction about what I needed to do next. Nothing was said. At that point, another staff member came out, and I asked her for assistance. She was immediately helpful and willing to assist me. I thanked her and apologized for bothering her, explaining that I had initially asked the Registrar for help and had either not been heard or had not received a response. I cannot know what the Registrar's intention was, so I will not state as fact that I was deliberately ignored. However, I can speak to what actually happened: I asked a direct question, waited for a response, received none, and ultimately had to seek assistance from another employee. Regardless of the reason, that is not the level of communication I expect from the person serving as a primary point of contact for parents. What is particularly frustrating is that this was not a situation where I expected the Registrar to stop everything and immediately solve my problem. If she was busy, a simple statement such as, "I'm unable to help with that right now, but you can speak with ___," or "Please wait a moment and I'll tell you how to schedule an appointment," would have been completely appropriate. Basic acknowledgment and courtesy are not unreasonable expectations. Parents should not have to wonder whether their questions are being ignored, whether they are inconveniencing staff simply by asking for assistance, or whether they will receive a respectful response when they walk into the school office. I also want to distinguish between the school being busy and staff being discourteous. I completely understand that school offices are busy, counselors have meetings, and employees have numerous responsibilities. None of that excuses a failure to communicate with a parent who is standing in front of you and asking for assistance. Being busy is understandable. Failing to acknowledge someone is a customer-service issue. The front office sets the tone for the school. For many parents, it is the first--and sometimes the only--interaction they have with school administration. Because of that, I believe the people working in that environment should demonstrate patience, professionalism, and basic respect, particularly when interacting with families and young children. There are clearly staff members at this school who understand this. My interaction with the other staff member today demonstrated that assistance can be provided courteously and professionally even when the office is busy. That interaction made the contrast with my experience with the Registrar even more noticeable. I am leaving this review because I believe this is an area that needs meaningful improvement. I am not expecting special treatment. I am expecting basic professionalism, and respect.