10 fyi — 2010
Suffolk’s Educational opportunities Education provides a foundation for Suffolk’s kids Beyond simple reading, writing and arithmetic, the demands of the 21st-century workforce place new demands on education, beginning at the preschool level. The city of Suffolk is home to public and private schools, a vocational school, and one center for higher learning — all in an effort to educate tomorrow’s leaders today. In neighboring communities, there are also several excellent choices of colleges and universities for the recent high school graduate or adults returning for a diploma. Across the city, there are 14 public elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools and an alternative program. The area is also home to two private schools, a vocational school and one community college. Public schools Public schools have come a long way in Suffolk since the first one opened here in 1871. At that time, schools operated three months of the year. The first “modern” school building opened in 1893 at the corner of Saratoga and Market streets. Today, Suffolk Public Schools offers a comprehensive program for grades K-12, in addition to special programs for gifted students, students with disabilities, remedial instruction in basic skills, advanced placement classes, alternative education, preschool and vocational education. There were more than 14,361 students enrolled in public schools as of September 2009. The system recently approved a $150.2 million operating budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The overall student-to-teacher ratio is 25-to-1, and there is a computer-to-student ratio of 3-to-1. There were 1,110 teachers and 1,018 support staff in 2008-09. Starting teacher salary for 2009-2010 is $38,900. In 2009, there were 895 graduates with 72 percent of students going on to post-secondary education. Suffolk Public Schools continue to strive for improvement in the state-mandated SOLs, which are standardized tests given in the third, fifth and eighth grades, as well as in high school, in
CHUCK PARKER ROOFING 34 Years of Roong Experience 986-3072 (Ofce)
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Submitted Photo Creekside Elementary School held its Annual Chill Will Day for those students who met certain behavioral and academic criterion. The kids had fun watching movies, playing board games, playing dolls, building train tracks, and pretending with action figures. Some opted to bring in pillows and sleeping bags to relax in as well. such subjects as English, mathematics, history and social science, science and computer technology. Preliminary results indicate that all of Suffolk’s public schools will receive full state accreditation again this year. To see how city schools fare in comparison with other divisions across the region and state, contact the School Administrative Offices or visit the Virginia Department of Education’s Website: http://www. doe.virginia.gov/
Creekside Elementary 1000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road Phone: 923-4251 Principal: Katrina Rountree-Bowers
Hillpoint Elementary 1101 Hillpoint Road Phone: 923-5252 Principal: Ronald Leigh
Driver Elementary 4270 Driver Lane Phone: 923-4106 Principal: Chanel Bryant
Kilby Shores Elementary 111 Kilby Shores Drive Phone: 934-6214 Principal: Seazante Oliver, Ed.D.
Elementary Schools
Elephant’s Fork Elementary 2316 William Reid Drive Phone: 923-5250 Principal: Veleka Gatling, Ph.D.
Mack Benn Jr. Elementary 1253 Nansemond Parkway Phone: 934-6224 Principal: Melodie Griffin
Booker T. Washington Elementary 204 Walnut St. Phone: 934-6226 Principal: Patricia Montgomery
Florence Bowser Elementary 4540 Nansemond Parkway Phone: 923-4164 Principal: Cheryl Riddick
Mount Zion Elementary 3264 Pruden Blvd. Phone: 923-5244
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See SCHOOLS page 11
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