First Colonial High School
- Public
- VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
Public School
Virginia Beach City Public SchoolsFirst Colonial High School
- grade A minusOverall Grade
- Public
- 9-12
- VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
- Rating 3.76 out of 5 434 reviews
First Colonial High School Reviews
Rating 3.76 out of 5 434 reviews
The new principal is really making a difference, as is the support over the past year from the PTSA. There is a push for connecting and feeling proud of the school.
My experience at First Colonial has been a very good one. I have had some amazing teachers, that really want you to succeed and will take their own time to help you if needed. I have also had a teacher or two that obviously do not want to be there. That just made me do mire work on my own, so still a learning experience. The sports at First Colonial are great! Games are attended by students, teachers and parents. The coaches truly care about the athletes. It was a great four years for me.
Over the past 4 years at First Colonial, there has never been a time where I felt unsafe. The school's administration is extremely caring and intuitive toward student's needs. I have been able to develop good relationships with teachers and administration to the point where I can go to them whenever I need advice. First Colonial has been a great place to grow and advance my education while creating unforgettable friendships and memories.
The academy that First Colonial offers (Legal Studies Academy) is filled with amazing teachers, classes, and resources. I cannot attest very much to teachers/classes outside of the academy, but there are more opportunities for things like field trips for LSA students. The school itself is old and it shows, just a few years ago, half of the ceiling in the chorus/orchestra room collapsed because the rainwater broke down the tiles. There are a lot of clubs and extracurriculars available at the school and the availability of AP classes is generally average. With classes like math with multiple teachers teaching the same class, it is a toss-up on how well you do depending on what teacher you get. While some are attentive and make sure all students are learning, others lack that and students tend to struggle under their instruction.
In my defense, being an African American student at a primary white school can be challenging at first, but when you give it time you realize how everyone is after the same goal as you. First colonial breeds law students and the teacher and administrators really cares for their students no matter the race you or your background.
The best part about First Colonial is that it's pretty active in the activities/clubs it has. I don't think there is a club here that is discriminated against or forgotten. The worst would be the amount of kids who vape, but I feel like almost every high school has a handful of those.
As a parent of two students attending First Colonial High School I have been very pleased with the administrative department and specifically Mr. Altman . He has been so helpful to my senior in preparing our FASFA and with all his knowledge, he has made the experience very easy. I would also like to add the office staff has been wonderful and extremely welcoming as this is our first year here due to moving. The security desk and the safety protocols in place definitely put me at ease as a parent with both children in attendance. I was initially concerned on how my boys would adapt to a new school especially my oldest coming in as a junior, but they both had a seemless transition. My younger son coming in as a freshman has been thriving. He had experienced some bullying in middle school so naturally i was concerned about a new school. He has made a bunch of new friends here at FC and has completely come out of his shell. Overall we have been very pleased with FCHS.
I really enjoyed my time at FC, the teachers and administrators are all very supportive of the different paths students are looking at taking. Additionally, FC provides opportunities in so many ways, in community involvement, through their law academy, through the various classes they offer, etc. Going to FC for the LSA, pushed me out of my shell and exposed me to opportunities, taught mr lessons I learned along the way, and much more!
Overall my experience at FCHS was ok. I am an alum of the Legal Studies Academy and had a very good experience and plenty of valuable learning opportunities. Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic hit during my junior year and it made the last semesters a challenge to get through. Most of the teachers and classes were good. Not too challenging but not too easy either. The infrastructure of the school is in poor condition and really needs work.
First Colonial High School has a great atmosphere and a lot of school spirit. The academics are usually great, however there is an occasional bad class or bad teacher.
As a student in the Legal Studies Academy (LSA) at First Colonial High School, I have had a mostly positive experience. My LSA teachers all do their best to make their classes engaging and law-related, as well as are open to questions and constructive criticism in terms of their class style. In terms of extracurricular activities at First Colonial, I consider myself very involved. I am on the volleyball team and we won the state championship this year, which I can say was because of the amazing coaching staff. I am also involved in three honor societies and several clubs, all of which have very involved teacher sponsors. The only negatives about my experience would be the building and the food, which are both sub-par.
The school spirit is always lacking not to mention all the clubs feel like VIPs, you have to know the member just to get in let alone know the club existed. The only honor societies we have are German, French, and Spanish. There is little space for improvement at First Colonial, teachers and counselors encourage you to stay in the lower classes, trying to convince you not to take APs.
Overall, I had a good experience at First Colonial High School. The best parts about the school are the many clubs and great teachers at the school. The worst aspect of the school is the culture of division between the academy and zoned students.
The teachers at FC are amazing and you can tell they really love their jobs. There are a lot of resources available to those who ask, especially when deciding on further endeavors. The building itself definitely needs a renovation.
Legal Studies Academy is the strongest part of the school academically. School spirit is kinda lacking
My education here at First Colonial High, thus far has been everything I’ve needed from a high school. First Colonial has resources for its students to get the jump on high education, such as FASFA. As well has providing adequate options in education for students to understand what college courses and classes would consist of. Overall First Colonial High has upheld its duty to its students both respectfully and adequately.
Some of the best parts about First Colonial High School has been my involvement in the Legal Studies Academy. As an academy student, I have been able to meet so many new friends and various opportunities for my future success. The clubs at this school are extremely diverse, which means you can find a club that suits your interests! I think some of the worst parts about my school can be the school environment. Sometimes the people that surround this school are not as well behaved as others, which means that they often get in trouble. This really strains security guards and teachers.