Kempsville Elementary School

Posted: July 5, 2023

The first year our child was in this school for preK it was awesome. After that the decline started. First off the front office staff have to be the rudest and laziest bunch I've ever encountered. It really was a nightmare dealing with this group and almost anything they could push off on the teachers they would. Most of the time I found myself having to message teachers for administrative issues. It was ridiculous. It seemed like one year we would have an engaging teacher and the next one that would be absent more times than present. I have to second a review I read above sending the chromebooks hone everyday with the children while they were in school. Then requiring parents to pay for any repairs. Really seemed like a way for that part of the budget to be put on the backs if the parents. A few years into our child attending it was brought to our attention that services were likely needed. Ok so we went through the process only for the request to be shut down. It took going through the OPEC department to move this along to start the needed services. The communication the last two years after the pandemic and with changes bringing a new principal in and then a new vice principal 2 years in a row was most alarming. At one time I'm sure this was a good school but we totally regret the financial maneuvers we jumped through to put our child in KES. The last year was an absolute nightmare I hope no parent has to go through what we went through with a total lack of emotional support for our child due to personal tragedies and unresponsive requests to quench excessive bullying our child was put through the last year. There are definitely some huge changes that need to be made there. Severe incompetence big time.

Posted: July 5, 2023

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Posted: June 20, 2022

My kids seemed to like KES pretty well, but as a parent, I found it quite frustrating. I'm sure part of it was because of the pandemic and having a new principal, but still, I'm glad to be moving on. There were just so many problems related to poor communication—both from teachers and from administrators. This problem cropped up over and over, in so many different forms that I couldn't list them all here. For example, there were NO parent-teacher conferences. None. Why? I have no idea. Also, the computer time for students was excessive in my opinion. It is not healthy or helpful for young children to spend large chunks of their days doing computer work—and it wasn't even necessary because school was in person. And why on earth should they haul a laptop to school and back every day? This is not optional, and any damages are paid for by parents. The teachers worked hard, and I know the pandemic was challenging, but I was disappointed at how much bad grammar my kids picked up from them (yes, from their teachers). This, on top of everything else? Sheesh.

Posted: June 20, 2022

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Posted: May 28, 2022

My wife and I sent both of our kids to KES in the past year. Overall we had an OK experience with the school, up until a recent concert in which our daughter participated. The theme of the concert (described as an “informance” rather than a performance by the music teacher) was promoting world peace – who could be against that, right?

One of the songs the kids performed was Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a song not about peace but about broken sexual relationships. To hear lyrics like “remember when I moved in you… and every breath we drew was hallelujah” from the mouths of elementary-age kids was awkward to say the least.

The culminating song of the concert was John Lennon’s “Imagine,” where our kids asked us to imagine a world with “no countries,” “no possessions” and “no religion.” In other words, imagine a world with no Muslims, no Christians, no Jews, no United States of America—wouldn’t that be wonderful? Nevermind that efforts to create a world with no countries, possessions or religion resulted in over 100 million deaths and unspeakable atrocities in the 20th century alone.

When I reached out to the principal to share my concerns, she responded that it was not the school’s intention to promote Marxism or utopianism. Perhaps, but this song selection shows poor judgment and lack of critical thinking on the part of the music teacher and school leadership.

Please don’t misunderstand me: as a university professor, I believe in examining and evaluating diverse perspectives; I do not believe in censorship. This is not "the marketplace of ideas." This is a school using taxpayer money to promote bigoted, foolish and historically disastrous ideas and put them in the mouths of impressionable children. Moreover, if the leadership of this school exhibits such a lack of critical thinking, promoting naïve utopianism without stopping to think about its obvious implications, how can we as parents have any confidence that our children will learn how to think critically?

Posted: May 28, 2022

Posted: August 14, 2021

Kempsville Elementary is a great school. Not only are the teachers supportive and dedicated toward the students, but the other families and students are amazing, too. What you get at KES is community. No drama, no bullying. We are an average income area with plenty of diversity. We are extremely happy being a Kempsville family.

Posted: August 14, 2021

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Posted: November 8, 2019

10/10, I love this school. My daughters go and have gone here, and my son will too if I don't get stationed elsewhere. This place is great!

Posted: November 8, 2019

I had one daughter who just left this school and another just starting. Both had comprehensive integration after school activities from online effects to paper hw assignments.

Posted: November 8, 2019

The teachers here integrate with parents through applications, emails, texts, and phone calls. The strength of communication is bat none, and I've had my kids in 3 other schools.

Posted: November 8, 2019

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Posted: November 8, 2019

Not a issue that I've encountered that wasn't dealt with that day.

Posted: March 25, 2015

Teachers and most staff are great! Front main office staff is unpleasant and rude not like the amazing teachers at all which is a good thing those attitudes displayed by those ladies are not around the kids.

Posted: July 28, 2014

Best school in Virginia Beach by far, only one that has worked with my son that has ADHD and got him to pass all his SOLs with flying colors! Staff, teachers, parents, kids, and PTA rock!

Posted: July 8, 2013

Great School. Teachers are very involved and actually care about their students success. HIGHLY RATED!

Posted: June 22, 2013

Both of my kids went to KES from K-5. They LOVED it! I loved it. The kids were all very supportive of each other, right up to graduation. It felt like a little family and I knew nearly every kid by name by the time they left.. The schools is welcoming and warm and teachers and parents are very involved in the success of the kids. This is a great school, despite the rating. Don't hesitate sending your kids here.

Posted: January 25, 2013

We are a military family and finally out of 3 states, these are the best schools my children have attended. I have been pleased with all of their teachers over the last two years. There are lots of extracurricular activities for the older kids like Student council, strings, lots of parent and PTA involvement. Buying a house in this school district was a great choice 7 years ago and remains a great choice today.

Posted: September 13, 2012

Great school, atmosphere, teachers, principal, and learning curriculum. Blessed to have had 2 children go through this school.